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WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The cast of 'Star Trek: The Original Series'

Of the three main cast-members, William Shatner is the last one alive.CBS/Getty Images

• There has been some form of "Star Trek" in our lives since 1966, when "Star Trek" premiered its very first episode on September 8.
• Over the last 50-plus years, the stars of the original series have remained sci-fi icons, especially to all the Trekkies out there.
• Here's where all nine stars from "Star Trek: The Original Series" are up to now. Only four are still alive.

As Spock might've said, the cast of "Star Trek: The Original Series," all lived long and prospered. Four of the stars are still alive today, all in their eighties — William Shatner is pushing 90 — and those that died lived into their seventies and eighties as well.

We've taken a look back at the pivotal show, and the careers of these TV pioneers, and paid respects to those that aren't with us anymore.

Keep scrolling to see what the cast of "Star Trek" has accomplished in the last 54 years.

William Shatner led the crew of the USS Enterprise as Captain James T. Kirk.

"Star Trek" was originally going to be focused on a different captain, Captain Christopher Pike, played by Jeffrey Hunter. A pilot was even filmed, but never aired. Gene Roddenberry, the creator, eventually retooled the show and cast Shatner as a new captain, Kirk.

Before "Star Trek," Shatner was famous for his role in an iconic "Twilight Zone" episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," in which he played a man recently released from a mental hospital who becomes convinced he can see a creature on the wing of the plane he's flying on. It aired in 1963, three years before "Star Trek."

Star Trek was originally going to be focused on a different captain, Captain Christopher Pike, played by Jeffrey Hunter. A pilot was even filmed, but never aired. Gene Roddenberry, the creator, eventually retooled the show and cast Shatner as a new captain, Kirk.

Before Star Trek, Shatner was famous for his role in an iconic Twilight Zone episode, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, in which he played a man recently released from a mental hospital who becomes convinced he can see a creature on the wing of the plane he's flying on. It aired in 1963, three years before Star Trek.

In addition to his "Star Trek" roles, Shatner acted in "T.J. Hooker" and "Boston Legal," hosted "Rescue 911," and has written numerous books.

Though he's 89 years old, Shatner has shown no signs of slowing down. After "Star Trek" was canceled in 1969, he briefly returned to voice Kirk for the "Star Trek" animated series. In 1979, he again reprised his role as Kirk in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." He'd continue to do so regularly until 1994's "Star Trek Generations." He even directed one of the "Star Trek" movies: "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier."

Besides "Star Trek," Shatner starred as the titular police officer on the '80s procedural "T.J. Hooker," and narrated "Rescue 911," a show that consisted of dramatic reenactments of real crimes.

Other roles that you might recognize Shatner from: a pageant host in "Miss Congeniality," attorney Dennis Crane in "The Practice" and its spin-off "Boston Legal" for which he won two Emmys , and in the 2016-2018 reality show "Better Late Than Never," in which Shatner, Henry Winkler, George Foreman, and Terry Bradshaw traveled around the world and experienced different cultures.

Shatner has written multiple books, both fiction and non-fiction over the course of his career. His 2016 book, " Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man ," was about his friendship with "Star Trek" co-star Leonard Nimoy, who played his on-screen better half, Commander Spock.

Though he's 89 years old, Shatner has shown no signs of slowing down. After Star Trek was canceled in 1969, he briefly returned to voice Kirk for the Star Trek animated series. In 1979, he again reprised his role as Kirk in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. He'd continue to do so regularly until 1994's Star Trek Generations. He even directed one of the Star Trek movies: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

Besides Star Trek, Shatner starred as the titular police officer on the '80s procedural T.J. Hooker, and narrated Rescue 911, a show that consisted of dramatic reenactments of real crimes.

Other roles that you might recognize Shatner from: a pageant host in Miss Congeniality, attorney Dennis Crane in The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal for which he won two Emmys , and in the 2016-2018 reality show Better Late Than Never, in which Shatner, Henry Winkler, George Foreman, and Terry Bradshaw traveled around the world and experienced different cultures.

Shatner has written multiple books, both fiction and non-fiction over the course of his career. His 2016 book, Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man , was about his friendship with Star Trek co-star Leonard Nimoy, who played his on-screen better half, Commander Spock.

Nichelle Nichols played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, a translator, communications officer, and linguistics expert.

Uhura was one of the first Black television characters that didn't have a menial job, but instead was in a position of power. She and Shatner were also involved in what is thought to be the first interracial kiss on American TV.

Nichols stayed with the show for all three seasons, but it wasn't without drama. She was tempted to leave during the first year, but none other than Martin Luther King Jr. convinced her to stay. She told the New York Post that when she told him that she wanted to leave, he told her, "You can't do that. You have the first non-stereotypical, non-menial role on television. You have created strength and beauty and intelligence. For the first time, the world sees us as we should be seen. It's what we're marching for. You're a role model and whether you like it or not, you belong to history now."

She also released an album in 1967, "Down to Earth." In between "Star Trek's" cancellation and its return on the big screen, Nichols starred in the 1974 blaxploitation film "Truck Turner," as Dorinda, a madam.

Nichols stayed with the show for all three seasons, but it wasn't without drama. She was tempted to leave during the first year, but none other than Martin Luther King Jr. convinced her to stay. She told the New York Post that when she told him that she wanted to leave, he told her, You can't do that. You have the first non-stereotypical, non-menial role on television. You have created strength and beauty and intelligence. For the first time, the world sees us as we should be seen. It's what we're marching for. You're a role model and whether you like it or not, you belong to history now.

She also released an album in 1967, Down to Earth. In between Star Trek's cancellation and its return on the big screen, Nichols starred in the 1974 blaxploitation film Truck Turner, as Dorinda, a madam.

Nichols retired from public appearances in 2018.

From 1977 until 2015, Nichols was involved with the program, Women in Motion. It was a recruiting program for NASA to help get more women involved in the space program. In July 2020, a documentary about the program finally secured distribution and will be released in 2021, Deadline reported.

"Nichelle Nichols not only was a trailblazer in Hollywood, she was a trailblazer for the future of our society. She took the fight for Civil Rights, diversity and inclusion and gender equality to new frontiers with NASA which continue to serve America's space program today. She was ahead of her time," said executive producer Ben Crump.

Nichols, 87, has also appeared in "The Young and the Restless," "Heroes," and "Futurama." She was diagnosed with dementia in 2018 , and subsequently retired from public appearances.

Nichelle Nichols not only was a trailblazer in Hollywood, she was a trailblazer for the future of our society. She took the fight for Civil Rights, diversity and inclusion and gender equality to new frontiers with NASA which continue to serve America's space program today. She was ahead of her time, said executive producer Ben Crump.

Nichols, 87, has also appeared in The Young and the Restless, Heroes, and Futurama. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2018 , and subsequently retired from public appearances.

Walter Koenig was cast as Ensign Pavel Chekov because of his resemblance to the Monkees' Davy Jones.

While Chekov was Russian, Koenig was born in America and based his accent on his parents' accents, who were Russian immigrants. Koenig was cast because, according to legend, he was supposed to help attract young girls as viewers due to his resemblance to teen idol Davy Jones. He even wore a Davy Jones-esque women's wig for the first seven or eight episodes, he told TV Insider in 2016.

Koenig's mainly recognized for his on-screen role as Chekov, though he became a pretty prolific screenwriter in the '70s. He wrote episodes for the "Star Trek" animated series, anthology series "What Really Happened to the Class of '65?" and children's series "Land of the Lost."

Koenig's mainly recognized for his on-screen role as Chekov, though he became a pretty prolific screenwriter in the '70s. He wrote episodes for the Star Trek animated series, anthology series What Really Happened to the Class of '65? and children's series Land of the Lost.

Koenig appeared in the 2018 film, "Diminuendo."

Koenig, 83, still makes frequent appearances on the "Star Trek" convention circuit, as well as acting in the occasional film. He appeared in 12 episodes of "Babylon 5" in the '90s, voiced himself in an episode of "Futuruma," and also voiced Mr. Savic on the Netflix animated series "Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters."

While not all of the "Star Trek" cast were on great terms, Koenig and his co-star George Takei remain close. Koenig was even the best man in Takei's wedding in 2008.

Koenig, 83, still makes frequent appearances on the Star Trek convention circuit, as well as acting in the occasional film. He appeared in 12 episodes of Babylon 5 in the '90s, voiced himself in an episode of Futuruma, and also voiced Mr. Savic on the Netflix animated series Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters.

While not all of the Star Trek cast were on great terms, Koenig and his co-star George Takei remain close. Koenig was even the best man in Takei's wedding in 2008.

George Takei played Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, a helmsman on the Enterprise.

Over the course of the show, Sulu was revealed to have many interests outside of Star Fleet — most famously, fencing. At the time, Sulu was one of the first Asian characters on TV that wasn't explicitly a villain, and instead a fully-formed hero.

"Up until the time I was cast in 'Star Trek,' the roles were pretty shallow — thin, stereotyped, one-dimensional roles. I knew this character was a breakthrough role, certainly for me as an individual actor but also for the image of an Asian character: no accent, a member of the elite leadership team," Takei told Mother Jones in 2012.

Takei originally was supposed to play Sulu as an astrophysicist, but the role was changed to helmsman. Before "Star Trek," Takei also appeared in "The Twilight Zone" like his co-star William Shatner, among other '50s and '60s procedurals.

Up until the time I was cast in 'Star Trek,' the roles were pretty shallow — thin, stereotyped, one-dimensional roles. I knew this character was a breakthrough role, certainly for me as an individual actor but also for the image of an Asian character: no accent, a member of the elite leadership team, Takei told Mother Jones in 2012.

Takei originally was supposed to play Sulu as an astrophysicist, but the role was changed to helmsman. Before Star Trek, Takei also appeared in The Twilight Zone like his co-star William Shatner, among other '50s and '60s procedurals.

Takei is still acting to this day, though many people know him now for his social media presence.

Who says an 83-year-old doesn't know how to use social media? Takei's Facebook page has 10 million likes to date, and he has 3 million followers on Twitter .

In addition to his continued acting in films like "Kubo and the Two Strings," and "Mulan," and TV shows like "Heroes," and "Supah Ninjas," Takei is an activist. He came out as gay in 2005 , and began working as a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign.

Takei also starred in the 2012 musical "Allegiance," which was based on his and his family's experiences during Japanese internment in World War II.

In addition to his continued acting in films like Kubo and the Two Strings, and Mulan, and TV shows like Heroes, and Supah Ninjas, Takei is an activist. He came out as gay in 2005 , and began working as a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign.

Takei also starred in the 2012 musical Allegiance, which was based on his and his family's experiences during Japanese internment in World War II.

Leonard Nimoy played Captain Kirk's first officer and close friend Commander Spock.

Spock was the only alien member of the original crew, as he was half-human, half-Vulcan — an alien race from the planet Vulcan whose residents operate solely from a point of logic, not feelings. Much of the show's comedy came from Spock and Kirk's differences and their amusement at each other. His frequent farewell, " Live Long and Prosper ," accompanied by the Vulcan Salute, are among the most recognizable pieces of the "Star Trek" canon.

Nimoy had multiple small parts in B movies and TV shows before booking "Star Trek," including an episode of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." alongside future co-star William Shatner, as well as an episode of "The Twilight Zone."

But once "Star Trek" premiered, Nimoy would be forever linked with his Vulcan counterpart, and mainly did voice work after the show ended. He also reunited with Shatner for an episode of his show, "T.J. Hooker."

Spock was the only alien member of the original crew, as he was half-human, half-Vulcan — an alien race from the planet Vulcan whose residents operate solely from a point of logic, not feelings. Much of the show's comedy came from Spock and Kirk's differences and their amusement at each other. His frequent farewell, Live Long and Prosper , accompanied by the Vulcan Salute, are among the most recognizable pieces of the Star Trek canon.

Nimoy had multiple small parts in B movies and TV shows before booking Star Trek, including an episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. alongside future co-star William Shatner, as well as an episode of The Twilight Zone.

But once Star Trek premiered, Nimoy would be forever linked with his Vulcan counterpart, and mainly did voice work after the show ended. He also reunited with Shatner for an episode of his show, T.J. Hooker.

Nimoy died in 2015 at the age of 83. He played Spock for the final time in 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness," meaning he played Spock for almost 50 years.

Nimoy is the only actor from the original series to appear in JJ Abrams' rebooted films, as he appeared in 2009's "Star Trek" and its 2013 sequel "Star Trek Into Darkness" as an older version of Spock who was trapped in an alternate universe.

In addition to acting, Nimoy was a photographer, recording artist, author, and director. He directed two "Star Trek" movies ("The Search for Spock" and "The Journey Home"), and "Three Men and a Baby," which became the highest-grossing film of 1987 .

Nimoy died in 2015 at the age of 83 due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Nimoy is the only actor from the original series to appear in JJ Abrams' rebooted films, as he appeared in 2009's Star Trek and its 2013 sequel Star Trek Into Darkness as an older version of Spock who was trapped in an alternate universe.

In addition to acting, Nimoy was a photographer, recording artist, author, and director. He directed two Star Trek movies (The Search for Spock and The Journey Home), and Three Men and a Baby, which became the highest-grossing film of 1987 .

DeForest Kelley played the ship's curmudgeonly chief medical officer, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy.

Bones, as he was affectionately called, was one of the oldest members of the crew, and thus got to be a bit more obnoxious than the rest of them. His frequent catchphrase, " I'm a doctor, not a ___, " is one of the most parodied lines of dialogue from the show.

Like his character, Kelley was older and a more established actor than the rest of the cast. Before the show, he had appeared in Westerns and historical films like "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," "Warlock," and "Raintree County" in the '50s.

Bones, as he was affectionately called, was one of the oldest members of the crew, and thus got to be a bit more obnoxious than the rest of them. His frequent catchphrase, I'm a doctor, not a ___, is one of the most parodied lines of dialogue from the show.

Like his character, Kelley was older and a more established actor than the rest of the cast. Before the show, he had appeared in Westerns and historical films like Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Warlock, and Raintree County in the '50s.

Kelley died in 1999 at the age of 79, nine years after playing McCoy for the last time.

Kelley essentially retired from acting, besides playing McCoy, after the success of "Star Trek." He appeared in all six films starring the original cast, and appeared in an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" as McCoy, as well.

While he wasn't much of a sci-fi fan, Kelley was proud of his "Star Trek" legacy. When asked what he thought his legacy would be, he explained that his character inspired people to enter the medical field. He told the New York Times , "These people [fans] are doctors now, all kinds of doctors who save lives. That's something that very few people can say they've done. I'm proud to say that I have.''

He died in 1999 at the age of 79 due to stomach cancer .

Kelley essentially retired from acting, besides playing McCoy, after the success of Star Trek. He appeared in all six films starring the original cast, and appeared in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation as McCoy, as well.

While he wasn't much of a sci-fi fan, Kelley was proud of his Star Trek legacy. When asked what he thought his legacy would be, he explained that his character inspired people to enter the medical field. He told the New York Times , These people [fans] are doctors now, all kinds of doctors who save lives. That's something that very few people can say they've done. I'm proud to say that I have.''

Majel Barrett had a recurring role as Nurse Christine Chapel.

Barrett was originally cast in the first version of "Star Trek" as Pike's first officer, but when that episode was scratched, so was her character. However, due to her romantic relationship with "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry (who she later married), she was brought back as Nurse Chapel (a divisive character).

Before the show, Barrett was in various bit parts in '50s and '60s shows, but her big break was "Star Trek," which she stayed involved in for the rest of her life.

Barrett was originally cast in the first version of Star Trek as Pike's first officer, but when that episode was scratched, so was her character. However, due to her romantic relationship with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry (who she later married), she was brought back as Nurse Chapel (a divisive character).

Before the show, Barrett was in various bit parts in '50s and '60s shows, but her big break was Star Trek, which she stayed involved in for the rest of her life.

Barrett died in 2008 when she was 76 years old. Up until her death, she had been involved with every "Star Trek" series in some way, leading fans to call her the First Lady of "Star Trek."

Barrett reprised her role as Chapel in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." She also appeared in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" as Lwaxana Troi, the mother of Deanna Troi, a main character in "Next Generation." Her other involvement in the series was the voice of the computer many of the other "Star Trek" films: "Generations," "First Contact," "Nemesis," and 2009's reboot.

She died in 2008 at the age of 76 due to leukemia .

Barrett reprised her role as Chapel in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. She also appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Lwaxana Troi, the mother of Deanna Troi, a main character in Next Generation. Her other involvement in the series was the voice of the computer many of the other Star Trek films: Generations, First Contact, Nemesis, and 2009's reboot.

James Doohan played chief engineering officer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott.

Contrary to popular belief, the phrase " Beam me up, Scotty " is never actually uttered in the original series. The man on the other end of that command, Scotty, was played by Doohan, who was Canadian in real life, not Scottish.

Before "Star Trek," Doohan served in the Canadian military and was even on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day, and was a pilot as well. After the war, he began acting and became a successful radio actor. Like his co-stars, he also appeared in an episode of "The Twilight Zone," and other popular procedurals.

In the animated series, Doohan proved to be indispensable, with his talent for voice acting and accents. He voiced over 50 characters during the show's run.

Contrary to popular belief, the phrase Beam me up, Scotty is never actually uttered in the original series. The man on the other end of that command, Scotty, was played by Doohan, who was Canadian in real life, not Scottish.

Before Star Trek, Doohan served in the Canadian military and was even on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day, and was a pilot as well. After the war, he began acting and became a successful radio actor. Like his co-stars, he also appeared in an episode of The Twilight Zone, and other popular procedurals.

James Doohan died at the age of 85 in 2005.

Doohan didn't find much success outside of the world of "Star Trek," and thus embraced his role as Scotty. He appeared in "Generations," as well as an episode of "The Next Generation."

However, his impact on the field of engineering cannot be overstated. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Milwaukee School of Engineering "after half the students there said that Scotty had inspired them to take up the subject," according to the BBC .

Towards the end of his life, Doohan suffered from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and retired from public life in 2004. He died the next year, at 85, due to complications from pneumonia .

Doohan didn't find much success outside of the world of Star Trek, and thus embraced his role as Scotty. He appeared in Generations, as well as an episode of The Next Generation.

However, his impact on the field of engineering cannot be overstated. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Milwaukee School of Engineering after half the students there said that Scotty had inspired them to take up the subject, according to the BBC .

Grace Lee Whitney appeared in the first season of the show as Yeoman Janice Rand.

Rand appeared in eight episodes of the show's first 15-episode season as a clerical and administrative worker aboard the ship, before Whitney was released from her contract. At the time, the story was that the show didn't have enough money to keep everyone, but years later in her autobiography, Rand accused an unnamed executive producer , who she called "The Executive," of sexually assaulting her.

"I tried to do what he wanted me to, so I could get it over with. I knew, deep down inside, that I was finished on 'Star Trek.' At that moment, however, I didn't care about that. Nothing else mattered — not my tarnished virtue, not my career, not my role on 'Star Trek.' The only thing that mattered was getting out of that room alive," she wrote.

Rand appeared in eight episodes of the show's first 15-episode season as a clerical and administrative worker aboard the ship, before Whitney was released from her contract. At the time, the story was that the show didn't have enough money to keep everyone, but years later in her autobiography, Rand accused an unnamed executive producer , who she called The Executive, of sexually assaulting her.

I tried to do what he wanted me to, so I could get it over with. I knew, deep down inside, that I was finished on 'Star Trek.' At that moment, however, I didn't care about that. Nothing else mattered — not my tarnished virtue, not my career, not my role on 'Star Trek.' The only thing that mattered was getting out of that room alive, she wrote.

Whitney died in 2015 at the age of 85.

After getting written off the show, Whitney struggled with her career, and alcoholism. She credited co-star Leonard Nimoy with helping her get back on her feet and involved with "Star Trek" once again. She reprised her role in four of the original "Star Trek" films, and in an episode of "Star Trek: Voyager" alongside George Takei.

She died in 2015 due to natural causes at the age of 85.

• Here's what the cast of 'Star Trek: Discovery' looks like in real life
• A 'Star Trek' writer made a 1999 prediction that absolutely nailed what technology is like today
• The 31 most underrated 'Star Trek' episodes
• RANKED: The 13 best original 'Star Trek' episodes

After getting written off the show, Whitney struggled with her career, and alcoholism. She credited co-star Leonard Nimoy with helping her get back on her feet and involved with Star Trek once again. She reprised her role in four of the original Star Trek films, and in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager alongside George Takei.

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Star Trek Cast: Where Are They Now?

One of the most influential television shows ever made spawned the careers of many great actors.

Star Trek The Original Series debuted in 1966 and introducing the world to Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and a whole host of amazing characters. In the years that have gone by, an entire franchise has blossomed, picking up speed as it went. Only a slight respite of a few years has halted this juggernaught, with three live action series currently released or in production, along with two animated series and more on the way.

But the show that started it all is still one of the dearest parts of many fans' journeys. The stories that came from Gene Roddenberry and the creative team still resonate today, echoing through the years to remind contemporary audiences of what the meaning of Star Trek really is.

The characters were often larger than life, which is to say nothing of the actors who played them. Some would go on to mega-stardom while some would rest comfortably in typecasting. None, however, had anything like a boring life or journey after their time on the show wrapped up.

Collecting here the stories from the main cast and some of the notable guest stars, this list offers a look into the lives of the Star Trek crew in the years after the Enterprise's Five Year Mission.

13. Jane Wyatt

Jane Wyatt was born in 1910 (happy 110 year birthday!) and of course appeared in Journey To Babel and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home as Amanda Grayson, Spock's Human Mother. The character has returned in Star Trek: Discovery, played by Mia Kershner.

Wyatt was working in Hollywood during one of its most fascinating (and turbulent) periods. She appeared in the film Lost Horizon during the Second World War, though she spoke on the film's message as being gutted for being released at the wrong time.

Her career suffered as she was outspoken against Senator Joseph McCarthy, who was heading the HUAC investigations. She would become most well known for her roles in Father Knows Best (NBC) and, of course, Star Trek.

She would go on to appear in a recurring role in St. Elsewhere, alongside Norman Lloyd - who himself would appear as Professor Galen in Star Trek: The Next Generation. She passed away in 2006, four years short of her 100th birthday, at her home in Bel Air, California.

Writer. Reader. Host. I'm Seán, I live in Ireland and I'm the poster child for dangerous obsessions with Star Trek. Check me out on Twitter @seanferrick

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Star Trek Original Series Cast: Then and Now

As Spock himself would say, "Fascinating ..."

Talk about a first-class crew.

When the original Star Trek TV series premiered on NBC more than 50 years ago, it didn't just make stars of its actors, including William Shatner , Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley , it made icons -- icons who would help spawn a multi-media franchise that continues today via CBS All Access' Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Discovery .

PHOTOS: See the original Star Trek stars

Here's a look back at the historic cast -- and a look at how each fared after the 1966-1969 series ended its primetime run. We've included series regulars, such as Shatner, who starred as Captain Kirk, and key guest stars, such as Susan Oliver (pictured, left), who's seen as the Orion slave-girl dancer in Season 1's "The Mengerie, Part II," and France Nuyen (pictured, right), who tempts Kirk in Season 3's "Elaan of Troyius."

Click on the arrow to beam up the pics!

( Disclosure: TV Guide is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of ViacomCBS. )

William Shatner Then

William Shatner plays the USS Enterprise's brave (and frequently shirtless) Captain James T. Kirk in the 1966-1969 Star Trek series and the first seven Star Trek movies, from Star Trek The Motion Picture to Star Trek: Generations . Like several of his Trek castmates, Shatner went on to voice his character in various Star Trek video games, and in the 1970s' cartoon, Star Trek: The Animated Series .

William Shatner Now

Shatner claimed two Primetime Emmy awards for playing the same role, attorney Denny Crane, on a pair of ABC legal dramas, The Practice and Boston Legal . He's seen here in 2020 at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo.

Leonard Nimoy Then

Leonard Nimoy plays the USS Enterprise 's beloved half-Vulcan, half-human science officer, Spock, on the original Star Trek series, and in eight big-screen Star Trek movies -- two of which he directed ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ).

Leonard Nimoy Now

In addition to following his other creative passions -- photography, poetry and music -- Leonard Nimoy directed the hit movie, Three Men and a Baby .

Nimoy, who died in 2015 at age 83, made his last on-screen appearance -- as Spock, natch -- in 2013's Star Trek: Into Darkness . He also appeared in the first film from the Trek franchise's J.J. Abrams era, 2009's Star Trek .

DeForest Kelley Then

DeForest Kelley plays Leonard "Bones" McCoy, who is a Starfleet doctor -- and not anything else -- in the original Star Trek series.

DeForest Kelley Now

DeForest Kelley appeared in the first six Star Trek movies, with his last major on-screen appearance coming in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country . He died in 1999 at age 79.

James Doohan Then

The Canadian-born James Doohan affects a Scottish accent to play Montgomery Scott, or Scotty, originally the USS Enterprise 's chief engineer. Doohan plays Scotty in the 1966-1969 Star Trek series, and in seven Star Trek movies. He also plays the character on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

James Doohan Now

Credited with helping develop the Vulcan and Klingon languages, Doohan was a regular on the Star Trek convention circuit until being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2004. He's seen here that same year at a ceremony honoring him with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Doohan died in 2005. He was 85.

Nichelle Nichols Then

With her role as Lt. Uhura, the USS Enterprise 's communications officer on the original Star Trek , Nichelle Nichols made history as the first actress to play an African-American professional woman, per the Historical Dictionary of African American Television .

Nichelle Nichols Now

Nichelle Nichols played Uhura in the first six Star Trek movies. She's gone on to appear in NBC 's Heroes and the CBS daytime soap, The Young and the Restless . Seen here at a 2018 Star Trek convention, Nichols also worked with NASA to help recruit minorities and women for the astronaut program.

George Takei Then

George Takei plays Lt. Hikaru Sulu, the helmsman of the USS Enterprise on the 1966-1969 Star Trek series. He went on to play Sulu in the first six Star Trek movies -- a run in which his character was eventually promoted to captain of the USS Excelsior .

George Takei Now

Today, George Takei, seen at the 2019 Saturn Awards, is a vocal LGBTQ activist, and the co-author of the graphic-book memoir, They Called Us Enemy , about his experience in the U.S. internment camps that held Japanese-Americans during World War II. He appeared in the Broadway musical, Allegiance , which is also based on his life.

Walter Koenig Then

Walter Koenig joined the original Star Trek cast in Season 2 as Ensign Pavel Chekov, the Monkees- and Beatles-channeling navigator of the USS Enterprise . He plays the Russian-accented character in the first seven Star Trek movies.

Walter Koenig Now

Among his considerable post-Star Trek series credits, Walter Koenig was a star and consulting producer on Star Trek: Renegades , a partly crowd-funded pilot for a would-be new Trek series. In 2010, he endured the death of his actor son , Andrew Koening (Growing Pains).

Majel Barrett Then

Majel Barrett plays Number One (pictured, left) in the original Star Trek pilot, known as "The Cage." In the rejiggered version of the show that NBC picked up in 1966, Barrett plays the Spock-infatuated USS Enterprise nurse, Christine Chapel (pictured, right).

Majel Barrett Now

There really was no life after Star Trek for Majel Barrett: She married franchise creator Gene Roddenberry in 1969, and went on to play roles in numerous other Trek projects. She is heard as the voice of Starfleet computers in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise and the 2009 J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie.

Roddenberry died in 1991; Barrett, seen in 2006 with her son, Eugene Roddenberry, died 2008. She was 76.

Susan Oliver Then

In the original Star Trek pilot, "The Cage," Susan Oliver plays Vina, a shipwrecked woman on the planet Talos IV, who is used by the Talosian powers-that-be to tempt Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter). In one famous scene, Vina is seen as an Orion slave dancer. Oliver's Vina scenes are repurposed for the Star Trek Season 1 episodes, "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II."

Susan Oliver Now

Susan Oliver is seen in a paparazzi shot from 1986. She died in 1990 at age 58. Her post- Star Trek credits included guest spots on Murder, She Wrote and the original Magnum, P.I.

France Nuyen Then

France Nuyen stars as the strong-willed titular character of the Season 3 Star Trek episode, "Elaan of Troyius."

France Nuyen Now

Seen at a 2018 Motion Picture Academy screening of The Joy Luck Club , a movie in which she starred, France Nuyen's post- Star Trek credits include a stint as a series regular on the 1980s NBC medical drama, St. Elsewhere .

Grace Lee Whitney Then

Grace Lee Whitney plays the USS Enterprise's beehive-boasting Yeoman Rand on the original Star Trek series.

Grace Lee Whitney Now

Though Yeoman Rand was written out of Star Trek after Season 1, Grace Lee Whitney went to appear in Star Trek movies and several other franchise properties, including an episode of Star Trek: Voyager . Whitney died in 2015 at the age of 85.

Joan Collins Then

Joan Collins stars as the doomed social-worker Edith Keeler, one of the great loves of Captain Kirk's life, in the Season 1 episode, "The City on the Edge of Forever," TV Guide's pick for the best original-series Star Trek episode of all time .

Joan Collins Now

Joan Collins is arguably best known for playing the dastardly Alexis Carrington on the original Dynasty series. In 2018, she played two characters in FX's American Horror Story: Apocalypse .

Mariette Hartley Then

In the Season 3 Star Trek episode, "All Our Yesterdays," Mariette Hartley plays Zarabeth, an ice age-era woman who Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and McCoy (DeForest Kelley) encounter on the planet Sarpeidon.

Mariette Hartley Now

Of late, the Emmy-winning Mariette Hartley has had recurring roles on ABC's Grey's Anatomy , NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Fox's 9-1-1 (pictured), where she played the ailing mother of Connie Britton's character in Season 1.

Ricardo Montalban Then

Ricardo Montalban plays Khan Noonien Singh, the super-powered strongman who's found aboard the SS Botany Bay in the Season 1 Star Trek episode, "Space Seed." The installment would serve as the basis for the hit movie, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , in which he also starred.

Ricardo Montalban Now

From 1977-1984, Ricardo Montalban starred as the mysterious Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island . He went on to do voice work on Kim Possible , and appear as Grandfather in the Spy Kids movies. He died in 2009 at age 88.

Diana Muldaur Then

Diana Muldaur appears in two original-series Star Trek episodes: Season 2's "Return to Tomorrow," and Season 3's "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" Muldaur plays different characters in the episodes -- both are doctors.

Diana Muldaur Now

Diana Muldaur played yet another Star Trek M.D., Dr. Katherine Pulaski, in Season 2 of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Her more recent credits include a voice-over role in Batman: The Animated Series (pictured). Her character? Leslie Thompkins -- a doctor, of course.

Mark Lenard Then

Mark Lenard is another actor seen as multiple characters on multiple Star Trek episodes: In Season 1's "Balance of Terror," he plays a Romulan commander (pictured, left); and, in Season 2's "Journey to Babel," he is introduced as Sarek (pictured, right), Spock's Vulcan father.

Mark Lenard Now

In real life, Mark Lenard was less than seven years older than Leonard Nimoy. But on screen, he was the perfect Spock dad, and he would play the character in subsequent Star Trek series, and in three Star Trek movies, including Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (pictured). He also played a Klingon in 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture .

Lenard died in 1996 at the age of 72.

Teri Garr Then

Teri Garr appears in the Season 2 Star Trek episode, "Assignment: Earth" (where she's billed as Terri Garr). The episode is a modern-day tale (for, well, 1968) about a time-traveler, and his secretary (Garr). The episode was a backdoor pilot for a never-was TV series.

Teri Garr Now

Teri Garr's considerable post- Trek film credits include Young Frankenstein , Tootsie (for which she was nominated for an Oscar), Mr. Mom and, of late, Unaccompanied Minors (pictured). She had a recurring role on Friends as the mother of Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow).

Jeffrey Hunter Then

Jeffrey Hunter stars as the USS Enterpris e's Captain Christopher Pike in the original Star Trek pilot, "The Cage," which was presented to -- and rejected by -- NBC in 1965. His work as Captain Pike would finally make it to air in the Season 1 Star Trek episodes, "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II."

Jeffrey Hunter Now

Best known for playing Jesus in the film, King of Kings , post- Star Trek , Jeffrey Hunter appeared in the 1968 Bob Hope comedy, The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell (pictured). He died in 1969 at the age of 42.

Clint Howard Then

A young Clint Howard plays Balok, the commander of a starship who uses a scary-looking creature (played by The Addams Family's Ted Cassidy) as a front as he toys with the USS Enterprise in the Season 1 Star Trek episode, "The Corbomite Maneuver."

Clint Howard Now

Clint Howard, the younger brother of Ron Howard, is a familiar face from his sibling's movies, from Eat My Dust to Solo: A Star Wars Story . In addition to Star Trek , Howard has appeared in an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise , and a Season 1 installment of Star Trek: Discovery (pictured).

Sally Kellerman Then

Sally Kellerman appears as Dr. Elizabeth Dehner in "Where No Man Has Gone Before," the second crack at a Star Trek pilot, the one that sold the series -- and that aired as the show's third-ever episode in 1966.

Sally Kellerman Now

Sally Kellerman is seen at a Star Trek convention in Las Vegas in 2016. After Trek , Kellerman notched an Oscar nomination for the film version of MASH . Her latter-day credits include an episode of Hulu's Difficult People , and a recurring role on IFC's Maron .

‘Star Trek’ 50th Anniversary: Where the Actors Are Now

By Lawrence Yee

Lawrence Yee

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“ Star Trek ” premiered 50 years ago today.

The original series — created by Gene Roddenberry — ran from 1966 to 1969 before finding a second life in syndication and then on the big screen.

“Star Trek” brought some of the most memorable characters on TV: the brash Captain Kirk, the logical Commander Spock, and Lieutenant Uhura, one of the first non-menial African American television roles.

Sadly, Leonard Nimoy, who played the half-Vulcan Spock, passed away last year . Other deceased cast members include DeForest Kelley (Dr. Leonard McCoy aka “Bones”) and James Doohan (Montgomery Scott aka “Scotty”). However, the surviving actors still have prolific careers.

William Shatner (Kirk) is currently starring in “Better Late Than Never.” George Takei (Sulu) recently finished a critically acclaimed run on Broadway in “Allegiance,” a play about Japanese internment camps . Both have found new life as internet memes as well. Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) just had a guest role on “The Young and the Restless.”

“Star Trek” spun-off into four series: “The Next Generation,” “Deep Space Nine,” “Voyager” and “Enterprise.” A fifth — “Star Trek: Discovery” is set to premiere next year .

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To see what the various “Trek” actors look like now and what they’re working on (yes, “Red” from “Orange is the New Black” once commanded a starship), click on the gallery below.

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The Original 'Star Trek' Cast: Where Are They Now?

For the last four decades, the original Enterprise crew has lived long and prospered

On the heels of the hit film rebooting the classic Star Trek story, PEOPLE opens hailing frequencies with the classic cast of the original Trek : where they’ve boldly gone, what the Trek phenomenon means to them – and what they think of their new counterparts.

William Shatner (Capt. James T. Kirk) RECENT WORK: An Emmy-winning turn as Denny Crane on ABC’s Boston Legal ; hosts Shatner’s Raw Nerve talk show on Bio; 2008 memoir Up Til Now ; Priceline.com commercials.

NEXT UP: The documentary Gonzo Ballet , dance performances of six songs written with musician Ben Folds.

Shatner, 78, had one of the most the most visible post- Trek careers, but he still held out hope he’d play Kirk one more time in the new film, awaiting a call from director J.J. Abrams down to the last minute of editing. “I had my cell phone with me all the time,” he laughs. “But no. They opened the film without me.” He’s still open to reprising the role one day, but says wryly, “it’s in other people’s hands. It’s such an awkward and humiliating position be in!”

“I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity that it gave me, the doors that it opened and the career that I was able to have – and am able to have – as a result,” he says. “I don’t know where I would’ve been had it not been for Star Trek , but I certainly know where I am because it did happen. It’s been a very meaningful and joyful thing for me in my life.”

ON THE NEWBIE: “My impression of Chris Pine is that it’s perfect casting. He’s young and he’s handsome and he will be rich.”

Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) RECENT WORK: 2008’s The Full Body Project , a book of his nude photography; the new Star Trek film.

NEXT UP: A recurring role on J.J. Abrams’ Fox series Fringe ; a photo exhibit at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts in 2010.

BACK IN THE ACT: Nimoy announced his retirement from acting in 2003, but returned to Star Trek after J.J. Abrams reawakened his passion and “reminded me what it really could be.” Still, the 78-year-old actor admits that even after putting the ears back on, “it took a little while for me to get my bearings. What I enjoyed hearing later was that the young people were all intimidated by me. I said to them, ‘Look, when I was your age and at your stage in the business, and the older guy came on the set that had been around for 30 or 40 or 50 years, I was intimidated. Now it’s their turn!'”

He remains very close with co-star Shatner (“We finish each other’s sentences”) but despite their past, oft-maligned musical efforts, don’t expect a duet. “I don’t think I’d record an album with him,” he says. “I don’t think that either of us should record any more albums!”

ON THE NEWBIE: “Zachary Quinto and I watched some episodes. We wanted to get a sense of the flavor of what it was we were doing in the ’60s. But he’s found his own way to play Spock. I think he does it extremely well.”

Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) RECENT WORK: 2005’s Are We There Yet? ; recurring role on NBC’s Heroes .

NEXT UP: This Bitter Earth with Billy Dee Williams and Richard Roundtree.

Nichols, 76, recalls that the weekend after she resigned from Star Trek to pursue her singing career, Dr. Martin Luther King convinced her – as the only black woman in a command position on television at the time – to stay. “He said ‘You have established dreams for us and you cannot take that away. This is your destiny.’ I was nearly in tears.”

Her presence inspired future achievers like Whoopi Goldberg that black people had a place in the future, and reversed others’ racist beliefs. “I had young white men and women come to me and say, ‘Your being on Star Trek broke the binds that tied me to hatred – thinking I was superior, and knowing within I was not. I wanted to be something better.’ When that comes at you, it changes your heart.”

ON THE NEWBIE: When Abrams sneaked her onto the set, Nichols says Zoe Saldana “just lost it. We sat there for about two hours and talked and talked. She said ‘I knew I could be anything I wanted to be when I saw you.’ I said ‘No one else could have been cast but you.'”

George Takei (Sulu) RECENT WORK: Recurring role as Masi Oka’s father on Heroes ; Howard Stern’s SIRIUS Radio announcer.

NEXT UP: Narration for symphony orchestra recordings; lobbying for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Along with steady roles, Takei’s been in the public eye since announcing in 2005 that he’s gay and marrying longtime partner Brad Altman last year – just before California banned same-sex marriage. “Our marriage is [legally] solid,” he says. “But we’re concerned about others and the basic idea of equality. I’m absolutely confident that our Supreme Court will throw out Proposition 8.”

Takei, 72, says Star Trek has endured because “the core values are still pertinent and relevant. It tantalizes you to imagine what else is going to come about in the future. To be inventive, to be innovative and to boldly go where no one has gone before – that phrase really sums up the point.”

ON THE NEWBIE: “John Cho had heard many exaggerated stories about fans. I assured him ‘Yes, we have very intense and very loyal fans, but they are just as diverse as the cast of Star Trek . So enjoy it. You’re going to have a great time. I’m absolutely confident that Sulu’s in good hands.’ ”

Walter Koenig (Chekov) RECENT WORK: Recurring role as Bester on Babylon Five ; voice actor in Star Trek video games.

NEXT UP: Wrote, produced and co-stars in the indie sci-fi film InAlienable .

“I was very lucky to be awarded that role,” says Koenig, 72. “With Star Trek you could always find something to respect and feel good about in the stories that we were telling. I’m pleased that if I had to be identified so thoroughly with anything, Star Trek certainly would be one of my top choices.”

Not everyone fell under Trek ‘s sway. Koenig recalls when he and James Doohan appeared at a video store opening in North Carolina: “We had been talked into appearing in our uniforms – the ONLY time that I allowed myself to get talked into doing that. We were waiting in the hotel lobby and a woman who had just checked in came over and said, ‘Y’all mind taking my bags to the room now?’ ”

ON THE NEWBIE: “I just told Anton Yelchin to do it his way. And to invest his personal experience and the way he feels about life into the character. Make it his interpretation. These characters are not historical figures, they’re fictional concoctions.”

Deforest Kelley (Dr. McCoy) and James Doohan (Scotty) Kelley was the first of the classic cast to pass away, in 1999 at age 79, followed by Doohan, in 2005, at 85. Kelley was “the epitome of a Southern gentleman,” recalls Shatner, “a good friend upon whom you could count at any time.” Doohan, says Takei, “was a great buddy. He wore his emotions on his sleeves – plural – and was a great, embracing guy.”

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The Cast Of Star Trek: Then And Now

Over 50 years since it first aired, Star Trek remains a cultural juggernaut – from the J.J. Abrams -driven big-screen saga, to the forthcoming return of The Next Generation , and the continuation of Star Trek Discovery on Netflix (where you can also find every episode of every Trek show, including the animated series). In salute to Gene Roddenberry's groundbreaking, iconic show, we take stock of those original actors who paved the way for everything that followed.

William Shatner

Cast as captain of the starship Enterprise, it was Shatner who set the standard as James T. Kirk. Born in 1931 in Canada, and having a career that has spanned television, stage, screen, novels, video games, comic books, music and lord knows what else, this is a an 85-year-old who will not stop until he drops, and even then he’d probably argue, “What does God need with a starship…captain?”

Leonard Nimoy

Mr. Spock was far from the first television sidekick to equal if not eclipse a TV show’s main star. Given what Shatner brought to Kirk, it’s says a lot about Leonard Nimoy’s ability that he could make a character in complete control (most of the time) of his emotions come across as more than a cardboard cut-out. He never allowed Spock’s quiet dignity to fade away, even when reprising the role as recently as in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness . Born in 1931, Nimoy enjoyed a working life in theatre, on TV and film (as both actor and director), and as an author, recording artist and photographer. He died on February 27, 2015, and received a touching tribute in Star Trek Beyond .

DeForest Kelley

If there was one actor who brought the most humanity to Star Trek , it had to be the late DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy. Born in 1920, he had built a career playing TV bad guys, usually in Westerns, which is what made it so surprising when Roddenberry cast him as The Enterprise's chief medical officer and Kirk’s conscience. After Star Trek finished its run, Kelley took on a couple of roles, but pretty much retired except for conventions, the first six big screen Star Trek adventures and a guest spot on the premiere episode of The Next Generation . He died on June 11, 1999.

James Doohan

He gave the engines all they had…and then some. It’s why James Doohan’s chief engineer, Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott,” was the best in the fleet. Born in in Canada in 1920, Doohan enjoyed a career in Canadian radio and television before making the shift to America. Like many of his co-stars, following the end of Star Trek he found himself typecast and other acting opportunities difficult to come by. He scored character roles here and there, and, of course, reprised the role of Scotty in the feature films based on the show. He died on July 20, 2005.

Nichelle Nichols

She opened those hailing frequencies like a boss, making communications officer Uhura an essential member of the Enterprise bridge crew. Born in 1932, Nichols took on the laudable challenge of being an African American actress on television at a time when America was struggling with civil rights. As such, she became a symbol and an inspiration for many African-American women. Early in her career she enjoyed some success as a dancer and singer, eventually making her way to television, where she met Gene Roddenberry on The Lieutenant . When he was casting Trek , he knew he wanted her to be a part of it. For some years following the series acting roles were sparse, but she did parlay the growing popularity of Trek into a job at NASA, where she recruited minority and female personnel to the space agency.

George Takei

Like his co-stars, George Takei , born in 1937, spent many years trying to shake off the persona of Enterprise helmsman Hikaru Sulu. But after embracing all of what Star Trek represented, Takei enjoyed something of a career renaissance. He acted in mostly small roles before Trek , co-starred in John Wayne’s The Green Berets . Besides reprising the role of Sulu in six feature films, he immersed himself in California politics, became an author, and in recent years seems to be almost everywhere , appearing on a wide variety of TV shows and most recently on stage in the musical Allegiance , set during the Japanese American interment of World War II, which Takei himself experienced as a child.

Walter Koenig

He joined Star Trek in its second season and, as navigator Pavel Chekov, was supposed to be the 23rd Century’s answer to the youth-appealing Monkees or The Beatles. Koenig was another actor who had come to Roddenberry’s attention through The Lieutenant , and was brought aboard the Enterprise in 1967, where he served through the remainder of the series and seven feature films (he joined Shatner and Doohan in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations ). In between he worked as a television writer, gained popularity for his portrayal of Alfred Bester in the series Babylon 5 and appeared in a number of films. He also wrote a number of books – both fiction and non-fiction – and worked in comics as well.

Notable Movie Guest Stars

Stephen collins.

He portrayed Commander Willard Decker in Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Born in 1947, Collins is best known for roles in in TV shows such as Tales of the Gold Monkey , No Ordinary Family and Revolution , as well as the films The First Wives Club and Because I Said So . He also spent eleven seasons as the patriarch on 7th Heaven .

Kirstie Alley

Born in 1951, Alley portrayed Vulcan/Romulan hybrid Lt. Saavik in 1982’s Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan . Following the film she co-starred in the long-running Cheers , and went on to such shows as Veronica’s Closet and Kirstie , a number of guest star appearances and starring roles in films Look Who’s Talking, It Takes Two, For Richer or Poorer and Accidental Love .

Ricardo Montalban

Montalban guest-starred on the original Star Trek in the 1967 episode “Space Seed,” portraying 20th Century genetic superman Khan Noonien Singh. Revived from suspended animation, Khan attempted to take control of the Enterprise and, instead of being sent to prison, was given a planet to tame by Kirk. After that, Montalban (born in 1920 in Mexico), just as he had before that show, appeared in a wide variety of TV series, television movies and feature films, but is largely remembered for playing Mr. Roarke in Fantasy Island and Zach Powers in Dynasty and The Colbys . In 1982 he reprised the role of Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , in which, as the title suggests, his genetic superman and his people escape the planet they had been left on, seeking vengeance against Kirk. Montalban died on January 14, 2009.

Christopher Lloyd

As the Klingon Kruge, Christopher Lloyd looked to be having a grand old time chewing the soundstage scenery with Shatner in 1984’s Star Trek III: The Search For Spock . Lloyd’s long list of credits include the TV series Taxi , as well as Who Framed Roger Rabbit? . He is undoubtedly most beloved for his role as Dr. Emmett Brown in the Back To The Future trilogy.

Robin Curtis

When contractual issues came up between Kirstie Alley and Paramount following Wrath Of Khan , Robin Curtis stepped in to play Lt. Saavik for Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and, briefly, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home . Prior to her tour of duty on the Enterprise, she guest starred on some TV shows, appeared in several films and amassed an impressive number of regional and national theatre stage roles. Between acting gigs, she's also worked as a real estate agent.

Catherine Hicks

In the years prior to endearing herself to Star Trek fans as marine biologist Gillian Taylor in Star Trek IV , Catherine Hicks (born in 1951) had spent three years on the soap opera Ryan's Hope , starred in several short-lived series, was Emmy-nominated for her role as Marilyn Monroe in the TV movie Marilyn: The Untold Story and would go on to star in Child's Play . Most notably she co-starred with Commander Decker (actually Stephen Collins) in 7th Heaven , which ran for eleven seasons beginning in 1996.

Laurence Luckinbill

Did you know Spock had a half-brother named Sybok? Nope, neither did we. Even Kirk had no idea, but that was one of the revelations of 1989's Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , and it was Sybok who hi-jacked the Enterprise so everyone could meet (not) God. Laurence Luckinbill, born in 1934, has a long history of roles on television, stage and in film. He also happens to be married to Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball (who gave the green light for the original Star Trek in the first place) and Desi Arnaz.

Christopher Plummer

Not that we didn't already know that Canadian-born Christopher Plummer could perform Shakespeare, but that point was really driven home in 1991's Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , for which he portrayed Klingon general Chang and which should have provided the Bard co-writing credit, given the number of quotes utilised. Born in 1929, Plummer's extensive film credits (not to mention his acclaimed stage work) includes The Sound Of Music , Battle Of Britain , Waterloo, Inside Man , Up , The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo .

Kim Cattrall

Admittedly it wasn't Sex In The Starship , but the Liverpool-born Kim Cattrall definitely brought a lot of sexual energy to her role as the Vulcan Valeris in Star Trek VI , serving as part of a conspiracy to destroy a newly brokered peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Born in 1956, her film career began in 1975 with Rosebud and went on to include such efforts as Ticket To Heaven, Porky's , Police Academy , Big Trouble In Little China , and Midnight Crossing . She is, of course, most famous for portraying Samantha Jones in the TV series Sex And The City and the two feature films spun off from it.

Head to Empire's 10 Essential Star Trek Articles

Who From The Cast Of 'Star Trek: The Original Series' Is Still Alive In 2021?

Sadly, a lot of the people that made the success of the original series possible are no longer on this Earth.

Star Trek might have come out over fifty years ago, but with the many movies and spin-offs, the franchise is still relevant, and its impact on popular culture cannot be ignored. The original series came out in 1966 and lasted for three seasons, winning several accolades and getting nominated to many important awards.

RELATED: These 'Days Of Our Lives' Cast Members Have The Highest Net Worth In 2021

Sadly, a lot of the people that made the success of the original series possible are no longer on this Earth. Most of them led remarkable lives, and their characters and their incredible talent will forever be in the hearts and minds of all the Star Trek fans. However, four of those outstanding actors are still with us, keeping the series' legacy alive.

7 William Shatner

William Shatner is most well-known for portraying Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series . He was one of the few members of the cast who already had been building a successful career as an actor before Star Trek blew up. He worked in a few important films in the fifties, did some theatre as a student, and even participated in a Broadway production.

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6 Shatner Continues To Be Successful

After the staggering success of the series, he continued to prove his talent with many other amazing projects, such as the 1974 movie Big Bad Mama and the series Barbary Coast . He also had a career as a writer and producer, so he's undoubtedly a man of many talents. Earlier this year, this incredible icon celebrated his 90th birthday. No matter how much time passes, fans will always remember him fondly as Captain Kirk.

5 Nichelle Nichols

Nyota Uhura was a translator and communications officer in Star Trek , portrayed by the great Nichelle Nichols, and she was quite a groundbreaking character in the 1960s since she was one of the first black women with lead roles in American TV. Nichelle was always aware of the impact her participation in Star Trek made, so she had made good use of her influence.

4 Nichols Fought To Make NASA More Inclusive Of Minorities

For many years, she volunteered at NASA to help the agency become more inclusive of minorities.

"There were no women, and there were no minorities in the space program -- and that's supposed to represent the whole country?" Nichelle said about it . "Not in this day and age. We just absolutely cannot have that. I can't be a part of that." Her strategy to change that was foolproof. "I am going to bring you so many qualified women and minority astronaut applicants for this position that if you don't choose one ... everybody in the newspapers across the country will know about it. Science is not a boy's game, it's not a girl's game. It's everyone's game. It's about where we are and where we're going."

In 1994, she released her autobiography, Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories , where she shared her experiences on the show and stories about her career in general.

3 George Takei

Most people will remember George Takei for his unforgettable portrayal of Hikaru Sulu, the helmsman of the USS Enterprise. He started his career in the '50s as a voiceover actor, and some of his credits include Rodan and Godzilla Raids Again , but Star Trek was what made him into the superstar that he is right now. While acting was always a passion of his, he prefers using his platform for his activism. In the early 2000s, he came out as gay, and has since become a spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community. He wishes he could have spoken out sooner, especially having experienced the Stonewall riots.

RELATED: Everything To Know About The Cast Of The New 'Wonder Years'

2 Takei Has Also Made A Huge Impact On Hollywood

"I saw these young men and women campaigning for what was called gay liberation, and giving up everything — their jobs, careers and families — to campaign for equality for us. It was very difficult for me," he shared . "Here I was campaigning for civil rights or the peace movement during the Vietnam War, but I was silent on the one issue that was organic to me, that was very personal. During that period I was weighted down by that sense of guilt and not participating."

Of course, his wishes to have done more are understandable, but it was a very different time, and coming out was a big risk for him at the time. Even so, he has managed to make a difference, and his legacy will include so much more than just his accomplishments as an actor.

1 Walter Koenig

Walter Koenig rose to fame with his role as Pavel Chekov, but he had known for a long time that he was going to be a movie star. Even though it wasn't his initial career choice. He attended UCLA and graduated with a degree in Psychology, but he soon realized that wasn't what he wanted to do.

"I did finish with a degree in psychology at UCLA and took one drama course at the school simply as a diversion,” Walter explained . “As it turned out, I had a professor who was very enthusiastic about what he thought I might be able to contribute as an actor. It was really with his support and enthusiasm that … I went back to drama school as opposed to going to grad school, and when I did that, I sort of sealed my fate. I didn’t know that would be the case, but being in a school which was exclusively devoted to the arts was the best time I’ve ever had in an academic environment. Once I started on that path it was pretty much determined, sink or swim, that’s what was going to happen in my life."

After Star Trek, he appeared in the series Babylon 5 , did some theater work, and even went back to college , but this time as a professor, to teach acting and directing.

NEXT: What Is The Cast Of 'Hocus Pocus' Is Doing Today?

THEN AND NOW: How 19 characters from 'Star Trek: The Original Series' have evolved over 56 years

• "Star Trek" premiered on September 8, 1966.
• Almost 57 years later, "Trek" is still going strong and finding ways to reinvent old characters.
• Here's how 19 characters from " The Original Series " have evolved over almost six decades.

Captain James T. Kirk was originally played by William Shatner.

Shatner played the first (and arguably most iconic) captain of the Enterprise for for all three seasons of "The Original Series" ("TOS") which aired from 1966 to 1969, before getting canceled.

He returned to voice the character in " Star Trek: The Animated Series " from 1973 to 1974.

Kirk remains many people's favorite captain of the Enterprise and "Trek" captain in general, as he set the blueprint for the next 57 years (and counting) of storytelling. Every "Trek" captain is measured against Kirk and Shatner's portrayal of him.

Shatner was last seen in the 1994 film "Star Trek Generations."

Shatner and the rest of the original crew starred in six movies starring the cast of "TOS" from 1979 to 1991 ("Star Trek: The Motion Picture," "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," and "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country").

However, to bridge the gap between " TOS " and "The Next Generation" ("TNG"), which aired from 1987 to 1994, Shatner reprised his role as Kirk in " Star Trek Generations ," the first movie starring the cast of " TNG ." In it, he teams up with the captain of the Enterprise 100 years in the future, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, to defeat a madman called Soran.

Spoilers for a 29-year-old movie, but Captain Kirk dies at the end of the film after helping to take down Soran, simply stating "It was fun. Oh my,"  before closing his eyes.

Additionally, archival footage and audio of Shatner has been used in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" ("DS9") in 1996, "Star Trek: Enterprise" in 2005, and "Star Trek: Short Treks" in 2019.

In 2009, Chris Pine took over the role. He played Kirk for three films, and counting?

In 2009, director JJ Abrams rebooted " Star Trek " by creating an alternate timeline (called the Kelvin timeline by fans) and re-casting an entirely new crew of the Enterprise, led by a bolder, brasher, and younger version of Kirk played by Pine.

Pine's version of Kirk started as a bar-fighting 25-year-old living Iowa, and by the end of "Star Trek Beyond" in 2016, he was a decorated captain and was newly dedicated to his mission to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no one has gone before.

Surprise news of a fourth Kelvin movie was reported in 2021 by Deadline, directed by "WandaVision's" Matt Shakman.

But in 2022, Shakman left the project to direct Marvel's "Fantastic Four," leaving Paramount looking for a new director to handle "Star Trek 4," according to a statement from the studio reported by Deadline.

In the latest "Trek" series, "Strange New Worlds," the Kirk torch was passed to "Vampire Diaries" vet Paul Wesley.

In "Trek's" latest show, " Strange New Worlds ," which is a prequel to the '60s series, audiences got their first glimpse at yet another version of Kirk, this time played by "The Vampire Diaries" star Wesley , in 2022.

"Strange New Worlds" focuses on the captain of the Enterprise  before  Kirk, Captain Christopher Pike, who is fated to be brutally disfigured in the future. In an attempt to avoid his fate in the season one finale, Pike is transported to a different timeline where he survives, which is where he meets Kirk, now the captain of a ship called the Farragut. Eventually, Pike is returned to his normal timeline.

In season two, audiences met  another  alternate version of Kirk in the third episode, before finally getting to meet the future captain for real in the sixth episode, where he met his future first officer, Spock.

Kirk's best friend and first officer Spock was originally played by Leonard Nimoy.

Spock, an alien race in the "Trek" universe known as a Vulcan, was known for being extremely logical (to a sometimes frustrating extent), and was frequently bewildered by his human crew, even though he was actually half-human himself.

Spock, and his Vulcan hand greeting accompanied by the phrase "Live long and prosper," is one of the most enduring symbols of "Trek" as a whole.

Nimoy played Spock for all three seasons of the '60s series, and voiced him in "The Animated Series" as well.

His last appearance in the role was the 2013 film "Star Trek Into Darkness."

Nimoy appeared in all six movies as the unflappable Vulcan (though he does die at the end of " Star Trek II " and is subsequently resurrected in " Star Trek III "), and even directed the third and fourth movies.

After that, Nimoy reprised his role as Spock in a season five episode of "TNG" called "Unification" in 1991, which saw him 100 years after the events of "TOS" as a Vulcan ambassador. He also appeared in episodes of "DS9," "Discovery," and the animated series "Star Trek: Prodigy" through archival footage and audio throughout the '90s and 2000s.

Nimoy was the only cast member of the original "Trek" to appear in the Kelvin timeline movies — in it, his version of Spock was pulled into this universe by a vengeful Romulan (another alien) to see the destruction of his home planet. He appeared in the 2009 film and its 2013 sequel.

Nimoy died in February 2015 at the age of 83.

He co-starred in the 2009 reboot and its 2013 sequel with a younger version of his character played by Zachary Quinto.

As Nimoy played the  original  Spock, Quinto played the Kelvin timeline's Spock. This version of the character is earlier along in his journey towards understanding humanity, and clashes with Kirk, instead of acting like best friends as they are in the original show.

Quinto appeared in all three films as Spock, and even got to try his hand at the iconic "Khan" scream in "Into Darkness."

In "Star Trek: Discovery" and "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," Ethan Peck now plays the logical Vulcan.

Peck first played an even younger  version of Spock in the Paramount+ series "Discovery" in 2019, where he interacted with never-before-known-about half-sister Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green). He then became a series regular on "Strange New Worlds" as Captain Pike's science officer and friend in 2022.

Spock is one of the few people aboard the Enterprise who knows about Pike's eventual fate, showing how close he was to his first commanding officer even before Kirk.

Kirk's other best friend and the Enterprise's chief medical officer Leonard "Bones" McCoy was originally played by DeForest Kelley.

Bones, as Kirk called him, represented the total opposite of Spock. Where Spock was ruled by reason and logic, McCoy was prone to passionate outbursts and was always concerned for Kirk and his friends.

And, famously, he was quick to remind everyone on board that he was just a doctor, not anything else.

Kelley, like his cast-mates, appeared in all three seasons of "TOS" and both seasons of "The Animated Series."

His last appearance in the role was the 1991 film "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country."

Kelley appeared in the six movies starring the cast of "TOS," ending with his appearance in "Star Trek VI" in 1991. This was also his last on-screen film role, as he died eight years later in 1999.

In 1987, Kelley was on hand to bless the cast of "TNG" by appearing in that show's pilot episode as Admiral McCoy, a much older version of the character (137 years old, to be exact). He speaks with Data about how the Enterprise will always bring you home.

Kelley died at age 79 in June 1999 , according to an obituary in The Washington Post.

Karl Urban played the good doctor in the reboot trilogy, beginning in 2009.

The 2009 film showed the meeting of Kirk and his future best friend on board a ship to Starfleet Academy — and explains how he got his nickname: He split from wife and his ex got everything in the divorce, leaving him with just his "bones."

Urban appeared in all three films of the Kelvin trilogy.

Nichelle Nichols played the Enterprise's communications officer, Nyota Uhura.

Nichols became a Black pop culture icon when she began playing Uhura, a communications officer, in the 1960s. She was one of the first Black women on TV to hold a high-ranking job, and was part of the first televised interracial kiss .

In fact, she was going to quit, but none other than Martin Luther King Jr. told Nichols she couldn't leave. "You have the first non-stereotypical, non-menial role on television. You have created strength and beauty and intelligence. For the first time, the world sees us as we should be seen. It's what we're marching for. You're a role model and whether you like it or not, you belong to history now," Nichols said he told her during an interview with the New York Post in 2011.

Nichols appeared in all three seasons of "TOS" and in " The Animated Series."

Her last appearance was also "The Undiscovered Country."

Along with her fellow cast-mates, Nichols appeared in all six "TOS" movies, wrapping up Uhura's experience in "Star Trek VI."

Nichols' face and voice also popped up in a 1996 episode of "DS9" and a 2022 episode of "Prodigy" via archival footage and audio.

Nichols died in July 2022. She was 89.

In the 2009 reboot, Zoe Saldaña played Uhura.

Saldaña played a version of Uhura straight out of the Academy, just like Kirk. She was a lot feistier than her '60s counterpart, and was one of the high points of the Kelvin trilogy.

Her character was also in a relationship with Spock, which was a marked departure from "TOS" and its movies.

In "Strange New Worlds," Celia Rose Gooding plays a younger version of Uhura who is still an ensign.

In "Strange New Worlds," fans learned that Uhura was actually on the Enterprise before Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, Chekov or Sulu, as a cadet under the leadership of Captain Pike.

Throughout the first season, we learned more about Uhura than we ever did in the '60s, including that she joined Starfleet after the death of her parents on Earth and was trying to escape how lonely she was on her home planet.

While she thought about leaving the Enterprise at the end of season one, in season two we learned she stuck around and was even promoted to ensign. Fans also learned that she was the one who inititally introduced Kirk and Spock.

Chief engineering officer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott was played by James Doohan.

Even if you've never seen "Trek," chances are you've heard the phrase "Beam me up, Scotty" (although it's never actually said on the show).

Doohan, who is actually American, played the Enterprise's trusty Scottish chief of engineering for all three seasons of "TOS" and the two seasons of "The Animated Series."

His last appearance was a small role in the 1994 film "Star Trek Generations."

Before " Generations ," Doohan played Scotty in the first six "Trek" films. He also appeared in a fan-favorite episode of "TNG" in 1992 called "Relics," which saw Scotty return to the Enterprise after 100 years of being stuck in the transporter (classic "Trek" science).

But his last on-screen appearance as Scotty was in the first couple scenes of 1994's "Generations" when he, Kirk, and Chekov are brought on board the Enterprise-B to help christen it. In classic Scotty fashion, he's able to help save the day, though he does witness the apparent death of his friend Kirk who was actually pulled into an alternate dimension called the Nexus. It's complicated.

Doohan is also seen in archival footage and heard in archival audio in episodes of "DS9" in 1996 and "Prodigy" in 2022.

Doohan died in July 2005 at age 85 , NPR reported.

A new generation of fans got to know Scotty through Simon Pegg's performance.

Pegg, who also co-wrote 2016's "Star Trek Beyond," first debuted in the 2009 film as a member of Starfleet banished to a remote, icy base with a new small alien friend named Keenser. He meets Kirk and the two bond as they make a break for the Enterprise. Pegg reprised his role in the two sequels.

And, in "Trek" tradition, he also wasn't actually Scottish.

We first saw Scotty's hand and and heard his voice in the season one finale of "Strange New Worlds."

As previously explained, the 2022 season one finale of "Strange New Worlds" saw Pike transported to an alternate future aboard the Enterprise. In one scene, we see Spock attempt to repair the damaged ship, and he's assisted by an unseen engineer with a very  familiar red shirt and Scottish accent.

However, in "Strange New Worlds'" primary timeline, the chief engineering officer was first an alien named Hemmer who (spoiler) dies in the penultimate episode of season one. He was then replaced by Pelia, another alien, in season two.

But still, fans who know that Scotty is coming to the Enterprise were excited to hear him, if just for a few moments.

In season two of "Strange New Worlds," a Scottish actor finally got to play Scotty: Martin Quinn. It only took 57 years.

Scotty was first teased in season one with a voice cameo, but fans got to meet him for real in the 2023 season two finale, "Hegemony." And now, he's finally played by someone who's actually from  Scotland, an actor named Martin Quinn, as Polygon reported .

While it may be a new actor, this Scotty has the same resourcefulness as both Doohan and Pegg's versions of the character.

Hopefully, we'll see more of him in season three.

Hikaru Sulu, as played by George Takei, appeared through the original series as the ship's helmsman.

Takei played Sulu, the senior helmsman of the Enterprise for all three seasons of "TOS" and voiced the character in "The Animated Series."

Sulu, as portrayed by Asian-American Takei, was a large step forward in terms of Asian representation — at the time, many Asian actors were forced to play untrustworthy people or straight-up villains. Or, indeed, many Asian parts were played by American actors in yellow face (see "Breakfast at Tiffany's").

Sulu, by contrast, was shown to always be an upstanding member of the crew.

Takei's last appearance as Sulu was in a 1996 episode of "Star Trek: Voyager" entitled "Flashback."

By the time of Sulu's last appearance in "Star Trek," he had become a captain of a starship himself, the Excelsior, as seen in both "Star Trek VI" in 1991 and his final on-screen appearance as Sulu in an episode of "Voyager" five years later called "Flashback."

"Flashback" is, fittingly, a flashback to the events of "Star Trek VI" as seen by a member of the crew, Tuvok, who was apparently serving on board the Excelsior at the time.

Takei's voice can also be heard during a 2019 episode of "Short Treks" via archival audio. He also reprised his role one more time during a season three episode of the animated series "Lower Decks" in 2022.

While not Takei himself, Sulu's daughter Demora has a small role in "Generations" as an ensign on the Enterprise-B, played by Jacqueline Kim.

John Cho played Sulu in the rebooted film series, and gave the character a new back story.

To honor Takei's real-life sexuality, Sulu was revealed to have a husband during the events of "Beyond" in 2016. His daughter, presumably Demora, is also seen in the film. Takei, however, didn't approve of making Sulu gay , he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016.

Cho was also in 2009's "Star Trek" and 2013's "Into Darkness." He even got to nod to the character's love of fencing on "TOS" during a scene in the 2009 film.

Walter Koenig played Russian ensign Pavel Chekov. He joined in the second season of the original series.

Koenig didn't join the crew of the Enterprise until season two, when creator Gene Roddenberry decided that they needed a younger character who could appeal to teenage audiences. So, they slapped a Davy Jones wig on Koenig, and there was Chekov.

At the time, it was a huge deal to have a Russian hero on an American TV show during the Cold War, as History outlined.

Koenig appeared in the second and third seasons of "TOS," but due to budgetary restrictions, was not in "The Animated Series." Koenig did, however, write one episode of the show called "The Infinite Vulcan."

His last appearance as the character was in "Star Trek Generations" in 1994.

Koenig appeared in the first six "Trek" films with the cast of "TOS." Then, three years after "Star Trek VI" in 1991, Koenig, along with James Doohan and William Shatner, appeared in "Generations" to christen the Enterprise-B.

Besides that, Chekov is also seen in archival footage during an episode of "DS9," and was heard during the finale of "Star Trek: Picard" in 2023.

The late Anton Yelchin took over as Chekov from 2009 to 2016.

Yelchin was part of the main cast of the 2009 reboot and its two sequels. He died in June 2016 at the age of 27 in a freak accident.

The final Kelvin film (as of now), "Beyond," was released in July 2016, just a few weeks after his death. As Bustle reported, the film was subsequently dedicated to both Yelchin and Leonard Nimoy , who died in 2015.

If a fourth Kelvin film  does  come to fruition, the creative team confirmed to The Wrap that Chekov would not be recast.

Fans of the franchise who watched "Star Trek: Picard" know that, as a nod to Yelchin, it was revealed that Chekov's son, Anton Chekov, is the president of the Federation — and he was voiced by Koenig himself.

Christine Chapel, played by Majel Barrett, worked under Dr. McCoy as a nurse.

As we'll see later, Chapel wasn't the first character Barrett played in "Trek." In the original (un-aired) pilot, Barrett played Number One, the first officer to Captain Christopher Pike.

But, when the show was taken in a different direction, Barrett was re-cast as Nurse Chapel, a nurse with a little bit of a crush on Spock.

Chapel appeared in all three seasons of "TOS" and in both seasons of "The Animated Series."

In 1969, after "TOS" was canceled, Barrett wed "Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry.

Barrett returned for the films "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979) and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" (1986).

Chapel only appeared in two of the "TOS" films: in the first as part of the main crew in 1979 and in the fourth in a small, cameo-like appearance in 1986.

Although Chapel never appeared in any of the "Trek" spin-off shows, Barrett did. She had a recurring role on "TNG" as Lwaxana Troi, the mother of the Enterprise's counselor Deanna Troi. Lwaxana was in five episodes.

Barrett could also be  heard  on three of the spin-offs: Her voice was used as the ship's computer in "TNG," "DS9," and "Voyager" for hundreds of episodes altogether.  Her voice is also the computer in "Generations," "Star Trek: First Contact," "Star Trek: Insurrection," "Star Trek: Nemesis," and posthumously in the 2009 reboot film and "Star Trek: Picard."

Barrett died in December 2008. She was 76 , The New York Times reported.

Nurse Chapel is only mentioned in the reboot trilogy, but she has a main role in "Strange New Worlds," played by Jess Bush.

Chapel gets a passing mention in both "Star Trek" and "Into Darkness" as an ex of Kirk's, but is never seen. By the time Bush began playing a younger version of her in "Strange New Worlds" in 2022, Chapel had been missing from our screens for 36 years.

Bush's portrayal of the character is instantly iconic. She's super-smart, capable, sassy, and altogether a lot of fun. Fans are also learning more about the relationship between Spock and Chapel's relationship, which is only hinted at during "TOS."

Yeoman Janice Rand, played by Grace Lee Whitney, only appeared in the first season of the original series.

Whitney played Yeoman Rand in just the first season of "TOS." Decades later, Whitney claimed she was written off the show after she was sexually assaulted by a producer , which The Washington Post reported in Whitney's obituary.

Her character seemingly had a relationship with Kirk, but it was never truly discussed.

Whitney made her last appearance in the "Trek" universe in "Flashback," a 1996 episode of "Voyager."

Whitney, after a dedicated effort by the Trekkies, was brought back for the first, fourth, and sixth "Trek" films in 1979, 1986, and 1991 respectively, though in a small role. In the sixth movie, specifically, she was seen as part of Captain Sulu's crew on the Excelsior.

Her last appearance as Rand was in the 1996 "Voyager" episode "Flashback," which flashes back to the events of the sixth "Trek" movie, "The Undiscovered Country."

Rand has yet to appear in neither in the Kelvin timeline films nor any of the Paramount+ series.

Whitney died in May 2015 at the age of 85 , reported The Washington Post.

Bibi Besch made her debut as Carol Marcus, an old flame of Kirk's, in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" in 1982.

Besch only appeared in one "Trek" movie, but her role as Marcus was significant. In it, viewers found out that Kirk had had a significant relationship with her, and had even unknowingly fathered a son with her, David.

Ultimately, Besch never reprised her role as Marcus, although David went on to appear in "Star Trek III."

However, Marcus did get a passing mention in the season two finale of "Strange New Worlds" in 2023 as just Kirk's pregnant girlfriend Carol.

She died in September 1996 at the age of 54 , according to The New York Times.

Alice Eve played a version of the character in the 2011 film "Star Trek Into Darkness."

In "Into Darkness," Eve took on the role of Marcus, and we see Kirk and Marcus meet, although there's definitely  not  a romantic relationship happening at that time.

During the movie, it's revealed that Marcus' father is a Starfleet admiral (and war hawk) who is secretly preparing for a war with the Klingons.

Marcus didn't appear in "Beyond" because, according to screenwriter Simon Pegg, there simply wasn't enough for her to do , he said on an episode of "Engage: The Official 'Star Trek' Podcast" in 2016.

Booker Bradshaw played Dr. Joseph M'Benga, another doctor aboard the Enterprise, in two episodes of the original series.

Bradshaw played another doctor aboard the Enterprise for two episodes: the season two episode "A Private Little War" and the season three episode "That Which Survives."

That was it for Bradshaw, and we never got to learn more about the character.

Bradshaw died in April 2003 at the age of 62 , according to the British Film Institute.

Babs Olusanmokun has a starring role in "Strange New Worlds" as a younger version of the character.

When the cast list of "Strange New Worlds" was announced in 2021 , you might have been surprised (and excited) to see that the Enterprise's chief medical officer wouldn't be Dr. McCoy, but instead Dr. M'Benga.

Over the course of the first season, we learned that M'Benga is a widower and has a daughter, Rukiya, who has an incurable, degenerative disease. We also learn that he's just as capable as Bones ever was.

In season two, we learned even more about M'Begna, including his past experiences as a soldier in the Klingon-Federation War.

Jeffrey Hunter and Sean Kenney played two different versions of Captain Christopher Pike, the captain of the Enterprise before Kirk.

Originally, "Star Trek" was supposed to be the story of Captain Pike aboard the starship Enterprise, played by Hunter. He starred in a pilot, called "The Cage," that was rejected by the network, which is how we ended up with our beloved Captain Kirk and William Shatner.

But instead of letting that footage go to waste, it was repurposed for a "TOS" episode called "The Menagerie," which sees a severely disfigured and disabled Pike (now played by Kenney) return to a planet called Talos IV, where he can live out the rest of his life under the illusion he's been cured, with the help of Spock.

Kenney played two other characters during "TOS" in the episodes "Arena" and "A Taste of Armageddon."

According to The New York Times, Hunter died in 1969 at the age of 42.

Bruce Greenwood played an altered version of the character in 2009's "Star Trek" and 2011's "Star Trek Into Darkness."

In the 2009 reboot and its immediate sequel, Greenwood plays a version of Pike pre-horrible accident, who convinces Kirk to enlist in Starfleet and mentors the young captain.

His fate in "Into Darkness" (read: his death at the hands of Benedict Cumberbatch's character), is very different than his TV counterpart's.

Anson Mount first appeared in "Star Trek: Discovery" as Captain Pike in 2019, and his portrayal was so popular that he received his own spin-off, "Strange New Worlds."

Mount made his debut as Captain Pike in season two of " Discovery " in 2019 as the temporary captain of the Discovery while the Enterprise was disabled. This appearance is at least five years after the events of "The Cage," the unaired "Trek" pilot from the '60s.

During one episode of "Discovery," he reunites with a character from "The Cage," Vina (more on her later), and in another, he sees a vision of the terrible accident in his future that causes his disfigurement.

He departed at the end of season two to resume command of the Enterprise and to star in his own spin-off, "Strange New Worlds," which began airing in 2022.

Mount reprised his role on "Short Treks," also in 2019.

Captain Pike's first officer, Una Chin-Riley, or Number One, was originally portrayed by Majel Barrett.

Before Barrett dyed her hair blonde and played Nurse Chapel, she played the first officer, known only as Number One, in the un-aired pilot of "Star Trek" called "The Cage," which was later repurposed into "The Menagerie."

The character wasn't seen again for over 50 years.

Rebecca Romijn now plays Number One in "Strange New Worlds." She also appeared in "Discovery" alongside Mount.

Fifty-six years after Number One was cut from "TOS," Romijn brought new life to the character when she appeared in "Discovery" alongside Anson Mount as Captain Pike in 2019.

She then began starring on "Strange New Worlds" in 2022, during which it was revealed that Number One is actually a genetically modified alien known as an Illyrian. We then learned that Illyrians are forbidden from joining Starfleet, leading to her arrest in the season one finale of "Strange New Worlds."

Thankfully, she was back on the Enterprise before long in season two.

Romijn also appeared in "Short Treks" in 2019.

Mark Lenard played Spock's father Sarek beginning in 1967.

Lenard makes his first appearance as Spock's estranged Vulcan father in the season two episode of "TOS" called "Journey to Babel." He subsequently voiced the character in an episode of "The Animated Series," as well.

In addition to Sarek, Lenard played a Romulan in another episode of "TOS," "Balance of Terror."

His last filmed appearance as the character was the 1991 film "The Undiscovered Country," though he appeared in an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" that same year.

Lenard reprised the role of Sarek in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth "Trek" movies in 1982, 1986, 1989, and 1991 respectively, playing a pivotal role in the third movie where he convinces Kirk to retrieve Spock's body in order to reunite it with Spock's soul during a Vulcan ritual.

Lenard appeared in the first "Trek" movie too in 1979, though not as Sarek. Instead, he played an unnamed Klingon commander.

Sarek also appeared in two episodes of "TNG" in 1990 and 1991, one of which was named after him. In it, he develops a close friendship with Captain Picard. His next appearance, "Unification" in 1991, saw him reunite with his on-screen son, Spock. Sarek dies during this two-part episode.

Lenard died in November 1996 when he was 68 years old , according to The Washington Post.

Ben Cross played Sarek in the 2009 reboot.

During a brief scene in the beginning of the 2009 film, and then during a scene where Spock returns to Vulcan, his father Sarek is played by Cross. He did not reprise the role for "Into Darkness" or "Beyond."

Cross died in August 2020 at age 72 , Deadline reported.

Sarek has most recently appeared in "Discovery," as played by James Frain, starting in 2017.

Sarek has a relatively important role in "Discovery," as he's both the father of Spock (who pops up in season two) and the adopted father of the show's main character, Michael Burnham.

It was confirmed in the second season of "Strange New Worlds" that Spock and his father are not on good terms.

Spock's human mother Amanda Grayson was first played by Jane Wyatt in the original series.

Wyatt played Spock's human mother Grayson in one episode of "TOS," the same one that Sarek made his debut in: "Journey to Babel."

Majel Barrett also voiced her in an animated episode, "Yesteryear."

Wyatt reprised the role for the 1986 film "The Voyage Home."

After Spock is resurrected during the events of "Star Trek III," his mother, played by Wyatt, returned for "Star Trek IV" to encourage her son to reconnect with his humanity.

Wyatt died in October 2006. She was 96 , according to The New York Times.

Winona Ryder took over the role in 2009 in "Star Trek."

Much ado was made about how Ryder was cast as the mother of Zachary Quinto, as she was only six years older than him.

But, Ryder only appears in a few minutes of the movie, donning makeup to show age, to briefly reunite with her son Spock on Vulcan before she dies during the planet's destruction.

Mia Kirshner began playing her in 2017 on "Discovery," and has since appeared on "Strange New Worlds."

Kirshner took on the role of Grayson in "Discovery," mainly as the adopted mother of Michael Burnham, though she did connect with Spock once he popped up on that show.

She returned in 2023 during an episode of season two of "Strange New Worlds" to help Spock after he was accidentally turned into a human.

Khan Noonien Singh, one of the most iconic villains in "Trek" history, debuted in an episode of the original series. He was played by Ricardo Montalban.

"Space Seed," an episode during the first season of "TOS," has been named one of the best episodes of "Trek" of all time. Lots of that credit can be given to Montalban's performance as Khan, a genetically modified super-human who tries to take over the Enterprise to bring "order" to the Federation.

At the end of the episode, Kirk chooses to sentence Khan and his people to live on a bountiful planet called Ceti Alpha V, with the intention of telling Starfleet to check in on them in 100 years.

Montalban returned for the 1982 film "Wrath of Khan."

By the events of "Star Trek II," Ceti Alpha V has become a wasteland due to the explosion of neighboring planet of Ceti Alpha VI, and Khan and his people have grown bitter and desperate.

Montalban absolutely steals the show Khan, quoting classic literature, going toe-to-toe with Kirk, and indirectly killing Spock.

But, of course, the crew of the Enterprise prevails and Khan is blown to smithereens.

While adult Khan has not shown up since "Wrath of Khan," a descendant of his, La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) is a regular on "Strange New Worlds."

The Los Angeles Times reported that Montalban died in January 2009. He was 88.

Benedict Cumberbatch (controversially) played Khan in the 2011 film "Star Trek Into Darkness."

Leading up to the release of "Into Darkness," the creative team and cast swore up and down that Cumberbatch  wasn't  playing Khan , but a different antagonist named John Harrison.

But then, fans watched as it was revealed that John Harrison was a fake name and Cumberbatch was indeed playing Kirk's most famous nemesis, Khan.

This choice generated some controversy , as Khan was described as a person of Indian descent and Montalban himself was Mexican — and Cumberbatch is white, as Screen Rant's Dusty Stowe wrote.

A young Khan from an alternate universe played by Desmond Sivan showed up in season two of "Strange New Worlds" in 2023.

During the episode, called "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," La'an is sent back in time to an alternate past in order to save the world, but she doesn't know what event she's supposed to be preventing. She's helped in this mission by an alternate Captain Kirk.

In a cruel twist of fate, La'an is forced to save a young Khan's life, because his death in the 21st century would set off a terrible future — and the alternate Kirk unknowingly sacrifices himself for the person who will one day kill his friend.

Arlene Martel played Spock's betrothed, T'Pring, in a 1967 episode.

During a famous episode of "TOS'" first season, "Amok Time," viewers were introduced to T'Pring, Spock's previously unmentioned fiancée. During the episode, it becomes clear that T'Pring doesn't not actually want to marry Spock, and instead loves a Vulcan named Stonn. After this episode, she's never mentioned again.

Martel died in August 2014 at age 78 , according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Gia Sandhu now plays T'Pring in a recurring role on "Strange New Worlds."

"Strange New Worlds" picks up years before "Amok Time," and, as such, T'Pring and Spock were at first very much in love and each dedicated to making their relationship work, despite their differences.

Sandhu appeared throughout the first season in a recurring role, but after her and Spock's relationship was put on pause in season two, we don't know how much more of her we'll see in the future.

Roger C. Carmel's Harry Mudd is another "Trek" antagonist who has lasted through the decades, appearing in two episodes of the original series and two episodes of the animated series.

Harry Mudd, or Harcourt Fenton Mudd if you prefer, appeared in four episodes across "TOS" and "The Animated Series," always trying to get one over on the crew of the Enterprise, looking for the best angle, and perpetually scamming those around him.

Carmel died in November 1986 at age 54 , according to The Los Angeles Times.

"The Office" star Rainn Wilson put his own spin on Mudd in "Discovery" and "Short Treks."

Wilson brought Mudd into the 21st century when he played the famed scammer in two episodes of "Discovery" in 2017 and in an episode of "Short Treks" in 2019 which he also directed.

In 2021, Wilson was campaigning to bring Mudd back into the fold and have him appear in "Strange New Worlds" at a fan convention, according to "Trek" fansite Trek Movie. Maybe in season three!

Susan Oliver played the lone survivor of a ship crash named Vina in an episode of "Star Trek."

Technically, Oliver as Vina was part of the un-aired pilot "The Cage." Vina was a woman living on Talos VI after a ship crash left her stranded there.

Her plight was then shown in the "TOS" episode "The Menagerie," which told the tale of Vina's first meeting with Captain Pike. The two fell in love while Pike was being held captive on the planet, but when the Talosians realized that humans can't be enslaved, they let Pike and his crew go.

While Pike wants Vina to come with him, she reveals she was heavily injured and disfigured during her crash, and the Talosians have used their powers of illusion to make her appear young and beautiful. She must stay behind in order to keep her appearance as is.

According to The New York Times, Oliver died in May 1990 at age 61 .

Vina appeared in "Discovery" too, as played by Melissa George.

Some time after their encounter in "The Cage," Pike and Vina became telepathically linked to communicate once more after some years apart.

Vina, now played by George in a 2019 episode of "Discovery," reveals to Pike that the Talosians have allowed her to live out her days with an illusionary version of Pike to keep her company.

What neither of them knows, yet, is that after Pike has his accident, he will reunite with Vina on Talos VI so they can both live their own "happy" illusions , as seen in "The Menagerie."

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Since it's been so long since the original "Star Trek" series premiered, most of the actors from it have passed away. However, a few are still making their mark on the world.

William Shatner, who played Captain James Tiberius Kirk, is still thriving at the age of 92 at the time of writing. Not only that, but he's far from retirement.

He's continued to take on acting work, with some recent examples including a 2022 turn on "The Masked Singer" and a role as host for the 2023 reality TV series "Stars on Mars."

George Takei climbed to fame playing Hikaru Sulu in "Star Trek". In the decades since the show ended, he's remained quite active as an actor and political activist.

At the age of 86, most of his recent work has been voice acting. He's played characters in shows like "Avatar: The Last Airbender," "The Simpsons," and "BoJack Horseman."

Walter Koenig, now 87 years old, played Ensign Pavel Chekov in the original series, and his most notable work has generally been in the realm of science fiction.

He hasn't been as active over the last decade, but he still works from time to time. In 2023, he briefly reprised his role as Chekov for "Star Trek: Picard" Season 3.

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Woman's World

The Original ‘Star Trek' Cast: Where They've Boldly Gone, Then and Now

Posted: October 28, 2023 | Last updated: April 17, 2024

Coming from a background that included acclaimed roles on stage ( The World of Suzie Wong, A Shot in the Dark ), screen ( The Brothers Karamazov, Judgment at Nuremberg) and television ( The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, For the People ), William Shatner was deemed the right man to captain the starship Enterprise and he did so brilliantly. But when the show ended in 1969, things weren’t so easy, and although he starred in the short-lived series The Barbary Coast , he had to pay the bills by participating on game shows, guest starring on different TV series, starring in low budget movies and appearing in TV and radio commercials.

A lifeline was thrown to him in the form of 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture , the success of which essentially relaunched his career.

Not only would Shatner star in six other films in the franchise, but he was featured in the title role of the police drama T.J. Hooker (1982 to 1986), hosted Rescue 911 (1989 to 1996), produced and starred in the TekWar series (1994 to 1996) - based on his own science fiction book series under the same umbrella title - achieved critical acclaim and an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Denny Crane in Boston Legal (2004 to 2008), performed a one-man show on Broadway, narrated countless documentaries and TV specials, recorded albums, and authored a couple of dozen fiction and non-fiction books .

Oh, and in 2021 he became the oldest person to go into space , doing so aboard the Blue Origin NS-18 . For fans of Star Trek it was a a thrill, but for Shatner himself the response was not one that would have expected.

“This was an immensely powerful awakening for me,” he said on stage at a convention. “It filled me with sadness. I realized that we had spent decades, if not centuries, being obsessed with looking away, with looking outside. I did my share in popularizing the idea that space was the final frontier. But I had to get to space to understand that Earth is and will stay our only home. And that we have been ravaging it, relentlessly, making it uninhabitable.”

Again, not what one would have expected.

A lifeline was thrown to him in the form of 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the success of which essentially relaunched his career.

J. Hooker (1982 to 1986), hosted Rescue 911 (1989 to 1996), produced and starred in the TekWar series (1994 to 1996) - based on his own science fiction book series under the same umbrella title - achieved critical acclaim and an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Denny Crane in Boston Legal (2004 to 2008), performed a one-man show on Broadway, narrated countless documentaries and TV specials, recorded albums, and authored a couple of dozen fiction and non-fiction books.

Leonard Nimoy , who would have seemingly been the most typecast from Star Trek having played Mr. Spock, actually went on to the most successful career of all the cast members during the 10-year period between the end of the original series and the release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture .

In 1969 he immediately shifted over to a co-starring role in the hit series Mission: Impossible for 49 episodes, playing make-up genius Paris. Following his departure in 1972, he played the lead in the national touring company of the musical Fiddler on the Roof , portrayed another “logical” character in the form of Sherlock Holmes, offered up his take on Vincent Van Gogh in the one-man show Vincent , and starred on Broadway in Equus . He made numerous appearances in episodic series and TV films, and narrated the syndicated show In Search of…

On the big screen he reprised the role of Spock in six films featuring the original cast, and portrayed the character in J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot as well as the 2013 sequel Star Trek Into Darkness , which would turn out to be his final filmed role. Earlier he segued into directing, doing so for Star Trek III (1984) and Star Trek IV (1986) before taking on Three Men and a Baby (1987), The Good Mother (1988), Funny About Love (1990) and Holy Matrimony (1994).

Between 1973 and 2002 he wrote seven books of poetry, two biographies - I Am Not Spock (1975) and I Am Spock (1995) - and published three books of photography. Additionally, he recorded five albums between 1967’s Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr. Spock’s Music from Outer Space and 1970’s The New World of Leonard Nimoy .

Nimoy was married twice and had two children. He died on February 27, 2015 of complications from COPD at the age of 83.

Spock, actually went on to the most successful career of all the cast members during the 10-year period between the end of the original series and the release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Following his departure in 1972, he played the lead in the national touring company of the musical Fiddler on the Roof, portrayed another “logical” character in the form of Sherlock Holmes, offered up his take on Vincent Van Gogh in the one-man show Vincent, and starred on Broadway in Equus. He made numerous appearances in episodic series and TV films, and narrated the syndicated show In Search of…

J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot as well as the 2013 sequel Star Trek Into Darkness, which would turn out to be his final filmed role. Earlier he segued into directing, doing so for Star Trek III (1984) and Star Trek IV (1986) before taking on Three Men and a Baby (1987), The Good Mother (1988), Funny About Love (1990) and Holy Matrimony (1994).

Leonard “Bones” McCoy

In essence, Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy served as the conscience to Captain Kirk aboard the Enterprise , and as such was perhaps the most humanistic of all the characters. There’s a bit of irony there in the sense that actor DeForest Kelley built his acting career on playing villains in Western films and TV shows. His post- Star Trek career was fairly limited, starring in the 1972 film Night of the Lepus , about a battle against giant killer bunnies, and he reprised the role of McCoy in six Star Trek features and the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

He married Carolyn Dowling in 1945 and was with her until his death on June 11, 1999 at age 79 of stomach cancer.

James Doohan as Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott

Canadian born James Montgomery Doohan had, by his own estimation, appeared on 4,000 radio programs and 450 television shows before he played Scotty for the first time in the second Star Trek pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” Like his co-stars, he brought the character to the big screen in six feature films, co-starring with Shatner and Walter Koenig in the seventh, Star Trek: Generations ; and also appearing in the “Relics” episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Other film credits include Rock Hudson ‘s Pretty Maids All in a Row and Man in the Wilderness (both 1971), Loaded Weapon 1 (1993) and, in his final film role, Skinwalker: Curse of the Shaman (2005). He co-starred in the Saturday morning live action series Jason of Star Command (1978), and in seven episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful between 1996 and 1997.

Although there were other TV guest spots, he spent much of his time each year doing the convention circuit, which turned out to be fairly lucrative. He wrote his autobiography, Beam Me Up, Scotty: Star Trek’s “Scotty” in His Own Words ; and three entries in The Flight Engineer book series.

Married three times, he had a total of seven children. He died on July 20, 2005 of complications from pulmonary fibrosis. He was 85.

” Like his co-stars, he brought the character to the big screen in six feature films, co-starring with Shatner and Walter Koenig in the seventh, Star Trek: Generations; and also appearing in the “Relics” episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Trying to break through as a black actress in the 1960s was not an easy thing to do, but Nichelle Nichols continued to push, finding small roles in a few films between 1959’s Porgy and Bess and 1966’s Mister Buddwing .

On TV she could be seen in episodes of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s The Lieutenant , Peyton Place and Tarzan before being hired to play Uhura. Although Nichols was planning on quitting the show after the first season, she was talked out of it by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , and remained with the franchise for much of her life. She played Uhura in six films as well as the fan-made production, Star Trek: Of Gods and Men .

Nichols impact as Uhura was such that NASA worked with her to recruit minority and female personnel for the space agency, her recruitees including the first American female astronaut, Sally Ride; and the first black astronaut, United States Air Force Colonel Guion Bluford. “When I began,” the actress pointed out, “NASA had 1,500 applications. Six months later, they had 8,000. I like to think some of those were encouraged by me. The aim was to find qualified people among women and minorities, then to convince them that the opportunity was real and that it also was a duty, because this was historic. I really had this sense of purpose about it myself.”

In subsequent years, she provided her voice to a number of TV animated characters, including playing herself on Futurama and The Simpsons ; there was a recurring role on Heroes and the soap opera, The Young and the Restless ; and film parts in later years included The White Orchid and American Nightmares (both 2018) and Unbelievable!!!!! (2020). Additionally, she recorded three albums, penned her autobiography ( Beyond Uhura ) and wrote a pair of sci-fi novels, Saturn’s Child and Saturna’s Quest . Married twice, she has one son (Kyle Johnson). In 2015, Nichols suffered a minor stroke and, three years later, was diagnosed with dementia. She died of heart failure on July 30, 2022 at 89 .

Although Nichols was planning on quitting the show after the first season, she was talked out of it by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and remained with the franchise for much of her life. She played Uhura in six films as well as the fan-made production, Star Trek: Of Gods and Men.

“When I began,” the actress pointed out, “NASA had 1,500 applications. Six months later, they had 8,000. I like to think some of those were encouraged by me. The aim was to find qualified people among women and minorities, then to convince them that the opportunity was real and that it also was a duty, because this was historic. I really had this sense of purpose about it myself.”

George Takei as Sulu

George Takei - born Hosato Takei - certainly diversified following Star Trek . Not only did he make appearances on a variety of television series (including The Six Million Dollar Man, Ironside, Marcus Welby, M.D. and Kung Fu ), but he co-wrote the 1979 science fiction/swashbuckler novel Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe and threw his hat into the Los Angeles political arena - and not for the last time.

While Takei has been able to work fairly consistently in film and television - beyond the six Star Trek films he appeared in - he’s stayed busy with myriad projects, including the 2012 musical Allegiance , which explores his own experiences and research into the Japanese American internment of World War II.

Prior to that, he co-wrote the graphic novel They Called Us Enemy , which focused on his family’s internment. In addition, he took on reality shows such as The Apprentice and I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! . He wrote 1994’s To the Stars: The Autobiography of George Takei , and followed with two additional non-fiction tomes.

In 2005, he came out as gay and emphasized that he and partner Brad Altman had been, at that point, in a relationship for 18 years (the duo also became the first same-sex married couple in West Hollywood three years later). Since then he has been involved in quite a number of campaigns demanding equal rights for members of the LGBT community.

Not only did he make appearances on a variety of television series (including The Six Million Dollar Man, Ironside, Marcus Welby, M.D. and Kung Fu), but he co-wrote the 1979 science fiction/swashbuckler novel Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe and threw his hat into the Los Angeles political arena - and not for the last time.

While Takei has been able to work fairly consistently in film and television - beyond the six Star Trek films he appeared in - he’s stayed busy with myriad projects, including the 2012 musical Allegiance, which explores his own experiences and research into the Japanese American internment of World War II.

Walter Koenig as Chekov

Walter Koenig, like his costars, did his fair share of episodic television work following his two seasons as Chekov in the Star Trek cast, co-starred in the Gene Roddenberry television pilot, The Questor Tapes ; had a recurring role on the sci-fi series Babylon 5 and reprised the role of Chekov in seven Star Trek films.

Additionally, he served as an acting teacher, directed plays, wrote novels and penned the scripts for such primetime television fare as Family and What Really Happened to the Class of ’65?. On top of that, there are the screenplays for I Wish I May, You’re Never Alone When You’re a Schizophenic and several one-act plays. His most recent film roles are Who is Martin Danzig? (2018) and Unbelievable!!!!! (2020).

Koenig has written a trio of memoirs ( Warped Factors: A Neurotic’s Guide to the Universe , Chekov’s Enterprise and Beaming Up and Getting Off: Life Before and Beyond Star Trek ), the sci-fi novel Buck Alice and the Actor-Rabbit , and the comics Raver and Walter Koenig’s Things to Come . He was married to Judy Levitt from 1965 until her death in in 2022. They have two children.

For more 1960s TV nostalgia, keep reading!

‘Three's Company' Cast: Behind the Scenes Secrets and Follow the Stars Through Time

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On top of that, there are the screenplays for I Wish I May, You’re Never Alone When You’re a Schizophenic and several one-act plays. His most recent film roles are Who is Martin Danzig? (2018) and Unbelievable!!!!! (2020).

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Original Star Trek Actors Still Alive – Learn Stuff

The original Star Trek television series was on the air from 1966-1969, which was a long time ago. No one knew it back then, but those first 80 episodes would spawn TV shows and movies for the next 55 years and beyond. Believe it or not, there are still some famous actors that appeared in TOS that are alive today. Let’s see who is still around.

Fred Williamson

Fred Williamson is famous for all kinds of reasons. Back in the day, he played in the NFL for the Steelers before switching to the Raiders and Chiefs in the AFL. Among many television and film roles, he played Anka in the 1969 episode “The Cloud Miners”.

Fred was born in Gary, Indiana in 1938 and is 83 years old today.

Phil Morris

He may be the least-famous actor on this list, but Phil Morris was on Star Trek a lot over the decades. Originally in the first series as an uncredited child, he played “boy in army helmet” in the 1966 episode “Miri”. Morris would later appear in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , as a Klingon and Jem’Hadar on Deep Space Nine , and as Lieutenant John Kelly on Voyager.

Since he was only a child in the 60’s, Phil Morris easily makes this list. He was born in Iowa City, Iowa in 1959 and is currently 62 years old.

Lee Merriwether, Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, and Anne Hathaway have all portrayed Catwoman, and Julie Newmar played the role in 13 episodes of the Batman TV series in the 60’s. Newmar was also in the original Star Trek as Eleen in “Friday’s Child” back in 1967.

Born Julia Chalene Newmeyer in Los Angeles in either 1932 or 1933, today she would be either 88 or 89 years of age.

I just learned that she is 5’11’…wow.

Clint Howard

It’s no wonder Clint Howard makes this list (he’s also the youngest here) as he was only 7 years old when he appeared as Balok in “The Corbomite Maneuver”. His brother, and later famous director, Ron Howard was shooting The Andy Griffith Show at the same time.

Clint would continue his Star Trek credits as Grady in DS9’s “Past Tense, Part II” in 1995, and the Ferengi Muk in “Acquisition” on Enterprise in 2002. Fast-forward to 2018, and he would appear as an Orion in the Discovery episode “Will You Take My Hand?”.

To my knowledge, Clint Howard is the only actor to play roles in both The Original Series and Discovery . He was born in Burbank, California in 1959 and is 62 years old now.

Joan Collins

Joan Collins just won’t quit. I’ve seen her acting as recently as the 8th season of American Horror Story . Collins played Captain Kirk’s ill-fated love interest Edith Keeler in 1967’s “The City on the Edge of Forever”.

She was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth in 2015. Born in London in 1933, Joan Collins is 88 years old today.

Walter Koenig

Walter Koenig portrayed Pavel Chekov in 36 episodes from 1967-1969 as well as seven feature films (including the crossover Generations ) and several video games.

Born in Chicago (no, he is not Russian) in 1936, Koenig is 85 years old today. It may be hard to believe, but Chekov wasn’t the youngest of the original cast.

George Takei

The title of “Youngest Original Cast Member” goes to George Takei. He played Hikaru Sulu on 52 episodes from 1966-1969, six feature films, many video games, 22 episodes of The Animated Series in the 70’s, and Voyager ‘s 1996 episode “Flashback”.

Born Hosato Takei in Los Angeles in 1937, he lived in interment camps during WWII – which sucks. 84 years old today, George Takei is a proponent of LGBT rights and Japanese-American relations.

Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols has been credited as Nyota Uhura as recently as Star Trek First Frontier in 2020. She’s played that role in 69 episodes from 1966-1969, 22 episodes of The Animated Series , six feature films and several video games.

Back in the 60’s, it was almost unheard of for a black woman to have a prominent role on a television series. She is also credited with the first interracial television kiss with Captain Kirk in the 1968 episode “Plato’s Stepchildren”.

Born in Robbins, Illinois as Grace Dell Nichols in 1932, she is now 89.

UPDATE: Nichelle Nichols passed away on July 30th, 2022.

William Shatner

Yes, Captain Kirk is still around. In fact he recently got back from a trip on Blue Origin in October 2021, becoming the oldest human to go to space.

William Shatner boldly went were no man one had gone before as Captain James Tiberius Kirk in 79 episodes from 1966-1969, replacing Jeffrey Hunter’s Captain Christopher Pike in the pilot. He was also Captain Kirk in 22 episodes of The Animated Series , seven feature films and numerous video games.

Like Walter Koenig and Nichelle Nichols, Shatner never made a cameo appearance in any of the later ‘Trek series or movies. His career was very prolific after Star Trek, with major roles in T.J. Hooker, The Practice and Boston Legal, as well as countless television and film roles.

William Shatner was born in 1931 in Montreal (yeah, he’s Canadian) and is 90 years old today.

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The Only Major Actors Still Alive From Lost In Space

On September 15, 1965, Irwin Allen whisked television viewers out of their living rooms on a journey to the outer reaches of space, where the Robinson family finds themselves marooned on a strange, not-entirely-hospitable planet thanks to the sabotage of their chief medical officer. For a nation dreaming of a seemingly impossible moon landing, "Lost in Space" was both wish fulfillment and cautionary tale; a part of us was enthralled by the notion of exploring the cosmos, but we were also terrified by the thought of aimlessly hurtling through a universe with no known end and no direction home.

Allen's series didn't dwell much on the more frightening aspects of the Robinsons' predicament. Unlike Gene Roddenberry's "Star Trek" (which would debut a year later) , Allen employed a fairly rigid formula that found the Robinsons and the hunky Major Don West (Mark Goddard) having to outwit the generally inept scheming of Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris). It was basically "The Swiss Family Robinson" with a robot (which bore a striking similarity to Robby the Robot from "Fantastic Planet," primarily because both were designed by Robert Kinoshita), which made it a hit with kids. Unfortunately, the show's budget proved onerous for CBS, so when the ratings were quite high enough to justify the cost, the network pulled the plug after three seasons.

Nevertheless, the show picked up new fans via syndication, inspiring an ill-conceived big-screen adaptation in 1998 and a so-so Netflix reboot series in 2018. But nothing could match the campy appeal of the original, with its two John Williams themes and game cast. Since the series' cancellation, we've lost some of its most colorful cast members (Goddard, Harris, Robinson family patriarch Guy Williams and Robot voice actor Dick Tufeld), but four of the Robinsons are still with us. Let's salute these performers who made space travel look like the best/worst family vacation ever.

Marta Kristen (Judy Robinson)

The Scandinavian actor Marta Kristen was given up by her mother at the end of World War II to allow the five-year-old to live a life unmarred by the awful reality that her parents were members of the Third Reich. Her adoptive parents moved from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1959, where Kristen quickly found steady work on television in series like "My Three Sons," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," and "Leave It to Beaver."

Her three seasons as Judy Robinson, the eldest daughter of the clan, turned her into a genre fan favorite, and she's been a reliable presence at conventions over the years. Post-"Lost in Space," her most memorable performances were probably in the cult curiosity "Terminal Island" (opposite future "Magnum P.I." stars Tom Selleck and Roger E. Mosley) and the Roger Corman-produced, John Sayles-scripted "Seven Samurai" riff "Battle Beyond the Stars."

Angela Cartwright (Penny Robinson)

As the plucky middle Robinson child Penny, Angela Cartwright evinced a smart and inquisitive screen presence. She was the viewer's surrogate at times, if only because boy genius Will Robinson could be such a know-it-all brat. Let's call her the thinking person's Robinson.

Of the surviving cast, Cartwright has one of the most notable big-screen credits via her portrayal of Brigitta von Trapp in Robert Wise's Best Picture-winning adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical classic "The Sound of Music." Cartwright's paths crossed again with "Lost in Space" creator Allen when she appeared in "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure." Aside from a select few film and television performances, Cartwright's career has mostly been in publishing via her "Pasticcio quartz" journal and book collaborations with "Lost in Space" co-star Bill Mumy.

Bill Mumy (Will Robinson)

For a supposed wunderkind, the youngest Robinson child had a troubling habit of placing himself in perilous predicaments that provoked the robot to proclaim the series' most memorable catchphrase, "Danger Will Robinson!" He also spent a lot of time in the company of Dr. Zachary Smith, which was unsettling for altogether different reasons.

Bill Mumy has skipped between film and television for most of his post-"Lost in Space" career. He was the leader of the buffalo-liberating Bedwetters in Stanley Kramer's unbearably preachy "Bless the Beasts and the Children," and connected with sci-fi fandom anew as Lennier on J. Michael Straczynski's long-running syndicated series "Babylon 5." But I'll always consider his artistic high point to be "Fish Heads," the silly-trippy cult song he knocked out with his Barnes and Barnes partner Robert Haimer. The video (directed by the great Bill Paxton) was arguably the highlight of the disastrous 1980-1981 season of "Saturday Night Live," and lives on as a nerd classic on par with the best tracks ever played on Dr. Demento's radio show.

June Lockhart (Dr. Maureen Robinson)

Born on June 25, 1925, June Lockhart made her big-screen debut in the 1938 film adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." She was a Special Tony Award in 1948 for Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer in F. Hugh Herbert's play "For Love or Money," and became a full-blown television star a decade later via her portrayal of Timmy's mother Ruth on "Lassie." She was directed by Howard Hawks ("Sergeant York") and Vincente Minnelli ( "Meet Me in St. Louis," which was brilliantly lampooned on "Saturday Night Live" last December ), and, oh yeah, she was Maureen Robinson on "Lost in Space."

Lockhart will turn 99 this June, and deserves a parade down Hollywood Boulevard (where you'll find two stars bearing her name). She is a showbiz legend who's witnessed almost a century of film, theater and television history. What a life and career!

Screen Rant

Niko's fate in dead boy detectives season 1 explained.

Dead Boy Detectives’ finale has left many unanswered questions about what really happened to Dead Boy Detective Agency member, Niko Sasaki.

• Niko's courage and selflessness ultimately lead to her death, but hints suggest she may still be alive in Dead Boy Detectives.
• Omens of death surround Niko, from a magical 8-ball predicting her demise to symbols linked to her disappearing after her death.
• Niko's good deeds and supernatural transformation could play a key role in her potential return in Dead Boy Detectives season 2.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Dead Boy Detectives

The Dead Boy Detectives season 1 finale left many questions open-ended, with one of the biggest being what happened to Niko Sasaki (Yuyu Kitamura). Dead Boy Detectives is an extension of The Sandman universe , and follows Edwin Paine (George Rexstraw) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), teenage ghosts and founders of the Dead Boy Detective Agency, as they solve supernatural crimes to help ghosts move on to the afterlife. Joined by human psychic Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson), they become stuck in the town of Port Townsend while also trying to avoid the looming threat of death themselves.

Although she makes a brief yet colorful appearance in Dead Boy Detectives’ first episode, it's in episode 2, “The Case of the Dandelion Shrine” where Niko gets a real introduction. Though she is very self-aware, Niko struggles to find her place in the world after her father’s death. A supernatural near-death experience invites her into the Dead Boy Detective Agency, where she begins to open up to the world outside. Yet another brush with death would see Niko meet her premature demise, but Dead Boy Detectives’ series finale suggests that despite her death, this would not be the last of Niko .

Dead Boy Detectives Stars Kassius Nelson & Yuyu Kitamura Tease Their Season 1 Arcs

Niko dies saving crystal in dead boy detectives season 1's finale, she finally got to be courageous.

Courage is a motif that has continued to follow Niko throughout Dead Boy Detectives , as it is one of her biggest weaknesses.

In episode 8, “The Case of the Hungry Snake”, Niko and Crystal go on a mission to save Charles and Edwin, who had fallen prey to the immortal witch, Esther (Jenn Lyon). Though initially rejected from the mission by Crystal, Niko insists on helping to save her friends, knowing that they will ultimately do the same for her. However, their plan quickly goes awry, leading to Niko taking the force of a magical spell aimed at Crystal, saving her friend with a final act of courage .

Courage is a motif that has continued to follow Niko throughout the well-reviewed Dead Boy Detectives , as it is one of her biggest weaknesses. Niko knows herself well but struggles to push herself beyond her boundaries. However, meeting Edwin, Charles, and Crystal gave Niko a home away from home and a palace where she found she could belong, thus bringing her out of her shell and allowing her to solidify her place in the world . Thanks to her new friends, Niko was able to find courage, though this would ultimately lead to her death.

Niko's Death Was Set Up By The Magical 8-Ball

Deathly omens converged around niko in dead boy detectives' finale.

In episode 4, “The Case of The Lighthouse Leapers” the Dead Boy Detective Agency was rewarded with a magic 8-ball that can predict someone’s death by the ghost of the lighthouse. It feels like no coincidence that this was entrusted to Niko, who continues to ask the 8-ball about her future throughout Dead Boy Detectives. Yet every time, she is faced with the same result and hints at Niko’s death being an oncoming and seemingly fixed event in Dead Boy Detective's timeline. However, as Dead Boy Detectives’ season progressed, more signs foreshadowed what would become of Niko.

Omens of death generally follow the Dead Boy Detectives throughout the series, though in episode 8 “The Case of the Hungry Snake” they all seem to converge around Niko. Niko sheds her usual bright color palette for a ghostly gray, and her first appearance in the episode alongside Edwin makes several references to death. Niko then faces another brush with death at the butcher’s shop, where she asks if this was what the magic 8-ball had been teasing all along. However, the magic 8-ball's real intentions are revealed only a few minutes later .

Edwin & Charles' Powers In Dead Boy Detectives & Comic History Explained

Dead boy detectives season 1's final shot teases niko is still alive, niko's good deeds could have caught up to her.

During Niko’s first introduction in Dead Boy Detectives , dandelion sprites (Caitlin Reilly & Max Jenkins) root themselves into Niko's brain before becoming trapped in a bell jar in her apartment. These sprites seem firmly linked to Niko, as they are missing from the bell jar after her death. However, in the final shot of Dead Boy Detectives, the sprites appear on-screen again, sitting in an igloo with a mysterious hooded figure as they anticipate what happens next. As the sprites had previously expressed what would happen to them if Niko had died, it could suggest that Niko is the girl behind the hood .

Niko later dies with the amulet in her hands, which may have been her saving grace.

Beyond this, more signs point to the hooded figure’s identity belonging to Niko. In episode 8, Niko is gifted a good luck charm - a bear amulet - from Tragic Mick, who thanks her for listening to his stories and tells her that her good actions may follow her when she least expects it. Niko later dies with the amulet in her hands, which may have been her saving grace. Tragic Mick runs a magic store, and it is entirely possible that the bear charm is magical and could have saved Niko. However, it could have saved Niko in an unconventional way.

Another sign that points to the hooded figure’s identity is their clothing. Due to the influence of her father and her desire for courage, Niko is often seen wearing clothing or make-up that is either red or in a similar tone, i.e. pink or orange, and uses it as an outward expression of the trait she desires to have the most. In the final moments of Dead Boy Detectives , the hooded figure is seen wearing a pink coat ; an item of clothing that would only match Niko’s color palette and could suggest that death wasn’t the end for Niko.

How Niko Can Still Be Alive For Dead Boy Detectives Season 2

The dead boy detective agency's newest addition could save her.

In Dead Boy Detectives ’ seventh episode titled “The Case of The Very Long Stairway”, Niko finally gets to prove her worth as a member of the Dead Boy Detective Agency. Niko uses the knowledge she gained from the Night Nurse’s book to put the rule-loving member of the Lost and Found Department in her place, which saves Edwin and Charles from returning to the afterlife and solves the case. However, this knowledge could also be the key to saving Niko in Dead Boy Detectives’ second season .

Niko’s death may have transformed her into something that is no longer human

One of the key takeaways from Niko’s reading was that in the Dead Boy Detectives ’ universe, someone can be brought back to life after they die. However, as the Night Nurse quickly notes, these people may not return in the same way that they once were. Now the Night Nurse has become one of the newest members of the Dead Boy Detective Agency, season two could see Edwin, Charles, and Crystal try to reunite with their long-lost friend. However, Niko’s death may have transformed her into something that is no longer human , but instead more supernatural.

Dead Boy Detectives